AJ Styles Reflects on Emotional Return to TNA, Addresses Match Possibility – AJ Styles has broken his silence following his emotional return to TNA Wrestling at Slammiversary, marking his first appearance for the company in over a decade.

In TNA’s newly released behind-the-scenes docuseries, Slammiversary: Fade To Black, Styles appeared in exclusive footage after his surprise return to the company he helped put on the map. The former TNA World Champion gave candid thoughts on how much the promotion has changed—and how it has returned to its roots.

“There was a time where [TNA] forgot where they came from,” Styles admitted. “And by no means do the same people own it today. They wanted to be something different rather than… who we were. And at the end of the day, it cost them.”

Styles went on to praise the current TNA locker room and its sense of unity, contrasting it with the backstage politics he once experienced.

“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. They’re pulling for each other,” he said. “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 there. That’s how you become a successful company. That’s what it takes.”

After delivering an in-ring promo with Leon Slater, Styles was met backstage by a loud “Welcome back!” chant from the roster. While fans in attendance chanted “one more match,” Styles addressed the possibility later in the documentary.

“I hope there’s something special as far as a match goes,” Styles said. “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 also thanked WWE for allowing him to appear, emphasizing how rare it is for talent under contract to visit another promotion.

“Tonight was the perfect night for me,” he said. “It was an opportunity for me to come and see the fans face-to-face… and WWE said, ‘Yeah, sure. Go do that.’ You don’t see that every day.”

He closed by praising Leon Slater, calling him “a really special talent at the start of an amazing career,” and reflected on how, while he might have stayed in TNA forever under different circumstances, he ultimately ended up exactly where he believes he was meant to be.

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