A WWE legend is set for an emotional homecoming this weekend after almost 12 years.
AJ Styles made his name in TNA Wrestling and inspired an entire generation as he changed the business forever in the X-Division.
It’s been over a decade since he left to wrestle in Japan before joining WWE in 2016, but now he’s been all but confirmed for Sunday’s Slammiversary event.
At the end of last night’s TNA show, a vignette played showing a mystery box as flashes of the Phenomenal One’s matches appeared on screen.
As the box opened, the video showed Styles’ wrestling gear with an unseen person blowing the dust off them before the Slammiversary logo appeared on screen.
‘Our prayers have been answered,’ wrote @SDevilleLive, while fellow fan @jimmyyso bad said: ‘AJ Styles coming back is wild. No one did it like him in TNA. Slammiversary just shot up on my must-watch.’
And @MCookMrF said: ‘TNA needs closure. AJ’s departure has been hanging over them for 11 years and finally regaining the soul of the promotion in some capacity is huge. Good for them.’
This comes days after TNA Wrestling President Carlos Silva hinted fans should expect a ‘phenomenal’ night on Sunday.
It’s not known exactly what Styles will be doing at Slammiversary, but his gear being dusted off certainly seems like a match is on the cards at some point.
Before the blatant teases, Silva opened up to Metro about the desire to use major, main roster WWE superstars on TNA events as the partnership continues to blossom.
‘100% It’s all part of the partnership, and how wrestlers, you know, move up, down, sideways,’ he admitted. ‘We’ll continue to do it.’
And after 2025 has already seen some incredible moments, including a WWE star winning the TNA Wrestling World Title, it seems anything is possible.
‘When you can have Joe Henry run into WrestleMania with the TNA belt, you know that nothing’s off limits,’ he said.
‘‘And you know that everyone at all the different levels are just thinking about, “What can we do to create great fan experiences?” And I really think that’s the thinking there.
‘I don’t think there’s anything off the table… And, and it’s nice to see, because so far it’s been easy, and so far it’s been great. So we’re gonna keep it rolling together.’
There are reports more main roster stars could be on the way, while Styles looks to have done a U-turn in his own mind after previously dismissing the idea of returning to TNA for a match.
‘I think this would be a good place to end my career, in the WWE,’ he told Metro over WrestleMania weekend in Philadelphia back in April 2024.
At the time, he insisted any return to TNA would be something that didn’t ‘involve wrestling’, but plans have clearly changed as he nears the end of his career.
Watch TNA Slammiversary on Sunday, August 20 at 1am via TNA+.
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