AJ Styles reacts to returning to the promotion where he first became “Phenomenal.”
On Monday, TNA released Slammiversary: Fade To Black, a new docuseries taking an in-depth and exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the promotion’s latest pay-per-view event. During the feature, cameras catch up with AJ Styles, who made his first appearance in TNA since 2014.
AJ Styles addressed his return at Slammiversary, sharing his happiness in seeing such a cohesive and supportive locker room.
“There was a time where [TNA] forgot where they came from. And by no means do the same people own it today. They wanted to be something different rather than something — [rather than] who we were. And at the end of the day, it cost them,” Styles said. “And if we would’ve just stayed on the path, man, who knows where we’d be right now? So, it’s different, but I’m glad to see that everyone’s pulling [for each other].
“That was the first time in a long time I’ve seen the whole company watching the same match because they were so interested in what’s going to happen. That’s awesome,” Styles continued. “They’re pulling for each other, you want that. You don’t have to worry about people stabbing each other in the back to get to the top. No, no, no — they want you to there! They want to see everybody there, they want to see everybody have a great match. That’s how you become a successful company. That’s what it takes. As long as that’s available and ready, people can see it? Man, TNA’s gonna grow.”
AJ Styles comments on calls for one more match in TNA
They then showed Styles walking backstage after his in-ring promo, celebrating with the roster, who chanted ‘Welcome back!’ at him. While he was in the ring with Leon Slater, Styles addressed the “one more match” chants and said he would “get back to” that later. Styles ultimately addressed it in Fade To Black. Styles hopes he gets that chance, but said he can’t promise fans that it will happen.
“Tonight was the perfect night for me,” Styles said. “It was an opportunity for me to come and see the fans face-to-face, something that 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 to just come and visit and share some time with them was pretty amazing.
“I hope there’s something special as far as a match goes,” he noted. “But I can’t promise that. I can’t promise you tomorrow, [or] what’s going to happen. But I can tell you this: I was very excited. Even I had the butterflies tonight.”
Styles closed by saying people were excited to see him in TNA after more than a decade. He knows how special this company is and probably would have been there forever if things didn’t go the way they did. However, things did go the way they should have, and he’s where God wanted him in life. Styles said he’s blessed to be there and said Leon Slater is a really special talent at the start of an amazing career.
Slammiversary: Fade to Black is available now, exclusively for TNA+ Annual VIP members. Fans who want to watch the special and become an Annual VIP Member can sign up for the annual plan on the TNA website.
Read More: Leon Slater Wants Match With AJ Styles, ‘Had No Clue’ About TNA Slammiversary Surprise
