AJ Styles Returns To TNA At Slammiversary & 3 Titles Change Hands
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TNA Slammiversary Return Was “Perfect Night” For AJ Styles

By Craig Ballantyne on 29 July 2025

AJ Styles has reflected on his TNA return and spoken on the possibility of wrestling in the promotion again.

On July 20th, Slammiversary saw AJ Styles return to TNA for the first time in over a decade. The Phenomenal One came out to a huge ovation and congratulated Leon Slater, who defeated Moose to become the new X Division Champion.

Styles spoke to the audience about the legacy of the X Division and praised Slater, saying he had shown that it wasn’t about weight limits, but about no limits. He then told Slater he was the future and that the division was in “phenomenal hands.”

On TNA’s Slammiversary Documentary, Styles said it was “the perfect night” for him.

“Tonight was the perfect night for me. It was an opportunity for me to come and see the fans face to face, something I haven’t done in a really long time, and WWE said, ‘Yeah, sure. Go do that.’ You don’t see that every day. So the opportunity just to come and visit and share some time with ‘em is pretty amazing.

When it comes to having one more match in the promotion where he made his name, Styles said he hoped it would happen, but couldn’t make that promise.

“I hope there’s something special as far as a match goes but I can’t promise that. I can’t promise you tomorrow what’s gonna happen to me. I can tell you this: I was very excited. Even I had the butterflies tonight.”

“It’s Always Gonna Be Special” – AJ Styles On Getting Back In The TNA Ring

AJ Styles left TNA in 2014 after the company tried to offer him a new contract that would have cut his pay by at least 60%. He then went on to wrestle on the independent scene as well as in Ring of Honor and NJPW before ultimately signing with WWE in 2016.

During the documentary, Styles said TNA would always be special to him, and admitted he would have been in the promotion “forever” if things had gone differently.

“People were excited to see AJ Styles, the same guy that they saw how many years ago? I don’t even know but it was over a decade now. To come back and be in that ring, it’s special, dude. It’s always gonna be special. It’s like the first girl you’ve ever loved, right? She’s always gonna be special to you.

“This was my first love. I would have been here forever, had things not went the way that it did. But, things needed to go the way they should because I’m right where God wanted me tonight.

“So I’m very blessed, very thankful to be able to come here tonight and Leon (Slater) is a special kid. Enjoy him. He’s different, and he’s incredible. He’s way more talented than most of us could ever be, and I wish him nothing but the best. Just the start of an amazing career for him.”

While another match with TNA is possible due to the company’s partnership with WWE, AJ Styles won’t be re-signing with the promotion anytime soon. It was recently reported that he had signed a one-year extension with WWE.

Do you want to see AJ Styles wrestle in TNA again? Do you agree that Leon Slater is the future of the X Division? Let us know your thoughts below!

H/T to Fightful for the above transcription.