I know this is a long time coming, but y’all deserve to read something coming from me. A contract extension was offered, but in the end we’ve decided not to go that route. And that’s totally fine! I love TNA, and my time there was full of ups, and very few downs. I’ve been apart of this amazing team and I’m really thankful for that, especially for the lifelong friends I’ve made along the way. I’ve grew so much as a performer/ wrestler, the team made me look like an absolute superstar with my promos (which were the f*cking coolest ever), and I had the opportunity to make history with the FIRST EVER Women’s Dog Collar match on tv. We weren’t allowed to bleed because someone used all the blood tokens (you all know who he is ahahah), but we still did a really great job, made history and will definitely go down as one of the best storylines/ tag team creations of all of TNA. I wish I could’ve done much more than to be part of the longest reigning TNA knockouts tag team champions (which is so cool), but that’s ok! I’ve done plenty, and I’m really proud of myself and so happy that I was allowed to do and create so much. I also gave my all, don’t get me wrong, especially coming back 7 months after having a baby and going straight to having a Chain Match (another first ever!!!), so I’ll definitely pat my own back for a little bit. But mainly, I want to thank Scott, Gail, Tommy, Bravo and Ingrid for helping bring me to the United States, bet on me and help me make history. Also thank you to Jimmy, Robert and Hunter for making me look the like baddest ass in the whole planet. And Basil for getting me into the door! But I’m not done yet, and you’ll definitely see me on TV soon 🩸 I’m also available for bookings, worldwide kellywrestling@gmail – KGmgmt@theparagontg.com”A contract extension was offered, but in the end we’ve decided not to go that route. And that’s totally fine! I love TNA, and my time there was full of… pic.twitter.com/HuCB2FOSFJ
Shinsuke Nakamura Possibly Reveals Result of AJ Styles Vs Gunther – Shinsuke Nakamura may have spoiled the result of AJ Styles vs. Gunther at the WWE Royal Rumble.
Following Nakamura and Styles’ match at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event in Montreal, Nakamura posted a statement to Instagram about his longtime rival. In the since-deleted post, Nakamura mentioned that Styles previously told him that he plans to retire at this year’s Royal Rumble.
“During last year’s Australia tour, at a house show in Melbourne, AJ gave a speech after the match. Listening to it, it was clear he was thanking the fans. But somehow, it also felt like he was hinting that retirement might not be that far away. The tour continued to Japan, and before the shows there, I asked him something. We were in a van on the way to the meet and greet. I asked him, ‘When are you going to retire’ He answered, ‘The Royal Rumble. I’ve already decided.’”
Styles’ career will be on the line when he wrestles Gunther on the January 31 event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Should it be his final match with WWE, it would mark 10 years from his debut in the company, which took place at the 2016 Royal Rumble.
Nakamura’s post is no longer published on Instagram. However, fans online have captured screenshots of it below:
“During last year’s Australia tour, at a house show in Melbourne, AJ gave a speech after the match.
Listening to it, it was clear he was thanking the fans. But somehow, it also felt like he was hinting that retirement might not be that far away.
The tour continued to Japan, and before the shows there, I asked him something.
We were in a van on the way to the meet and greet.
I asked him,
“When are you going to retire?”
He answered,
“The Royal Rumble. I’ve already decided.”
Me…
…!!!
Whether I actually said it out loud or just thought it for a split second, I’m not sure. But I remember it clearly.
“Before you retire, I want to wrestle you one more time.”
AJ nodded.
Before the match started, he showed me something he had written on his phone.
It was a message he wanted to say to the Japanese fans.
He asked me to turn it into proper Japanese.
It talked about his anxiety and excitement when he first came to Japan,
and his gratitude toward Japan for accepting him.
It was, without question, a farewell message.
As his voice, I gave that speech in Japanese, putting as much emotion into it as I possibly could.
That was the moment when his retirement finally started to feel real to me.
Even though it was still a little further down the road compared to guys like Cena or Tanahashi,
I found myself imagining the enormous sense of loss that would eventually come.
Ten years ago.
2016. Tokyo Dome.
It was our first ever singles match.
That match was later praised all over the world, and not long after, we both left New Japan Pro Wrestling and came to WWE.
We never talked about our futures with each other.
I think we just happened to make huge decisions at the same time.
In America, I was just pushing forward without thinking.
I finished NXT and reunited with AJ on the main roster.
AJ, on the other hand, took over WWE like a fish in water.
He brought a new wind everywhere he went.
And honestly, I remember thinking, “Yeah, that figures.”
Our reunion moment at Money in the Bank,
my Royal Rumble victory,
and then our singles match at WrestleMania.
I don’t think any of that would have happened if AJ hadn’t pushed it.
I still have some regrets about what happened after our WrestleMania match,
but the final match of that rivalry, our singles match at Money in the Bank in Detroit,
is actually one of my favorite matches ever so.
He’s straightforward, easy to read, and impossible to hate.
His everyday clothes are terrible, and he’s got that Southern American accent.
What a lovely American.
And yet, when it comes to professional wrestling,
his balance of expression and technique is the best in the world.
Truly one of a kind.
I don’t say it out loud, but I rely on him.
I respect him.
And even though we don’t actually know each other as deeply as people might think,
to me, he’s special. Almost like a brother and a best friend, in my own way.
And now…
our final match awaits.
My last chance to give him the perfect send off.
Do your best, me.
And pro wrestling gods, please be kind.”
🚨| Shinsuke Nakamura just confirmed that AJ Styles is indeed retiring at the Royal Rumble next week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“I asked him, ‘When are you going to retire?’ He answered, ‘At the Royal Rumble. I’ve already decided.’” pic.twitter.com/6gCvPGzRgc
— EliteRockerz 𝕏 (@EliteClubS0B) January 25, 2026
“He’s special. Almost like a brother & a best friend” Shinsuke Nakamura talking about AJ Styles 🥺❤️ Wrestling is so lucky to have these two amazing men give so much of themselves to it! pic.twitter.com/uFJZixj3Jg
— 💖💖 (@AnnetteReid247) January 25, 2026
Shinsuke Nakamura Possibly Reveals Result of AJ Styles Vs Gunther
While he’s currently enjoying success as United States Champion, Carmelo Hayes’ earlier time on WWE’s main roster wasn’t as fruitful. Still, he managed to look for the positives, and in doing so, learned a valuable skill from two of WWE’s top stars, Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns.
“Biggest thing I noticed with Cody especially is just the connection with the fans,” Hayes told “No Holds Barred.” “I feel like that’s something that in Roman too. They’re connected. It’s just like they’re one. They’re ride or die, up and down.
“I will say that what has been good for me is this year and a half of trying to figure out, who I am, what I am, what my purpose is, kind of took the fans on a ride with me where they felt like they’ve seen the journey,” he continued. “They’ve seen me fail. They’ve seen me have to jump over a hurdle or start back at the beginning, so it’s almost like they organically said, ‘Hey, you know what? We want something for this guy. We want to see this guy win. We want to see this guy overcome.’ So I think that was my connection that I ended up finding with the fans.”
Hayes, a former NXT Champion, received his official call up to the main roster in April 2024 as a first round pick in the WWE Draft. In the months following, he notably feuded with Andrade through a best of seven match series that ended in a no contest, with both of them losing to LA Knight in a triple threat US Title match at WWE Crown Jewel. In 2025, Hayes formed an alliance with WWE veteran The Miz, though that later dissolved and propelled Hayes into the spotlight as a babyface singles star.
If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “No Holds Barred” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Earlier this month, TNA Wrestling confirmed that BrandonDoesEverything — better known as BDE — had officially inked a contract with the promotion. Now as a rookie member of the TNA roster, BDE confirmed that he is looking to veterans such as TNA World Tag Team Champion Jeff Hardy for guidance.
“A lot of it comes down to just the little things when I’m in the ring, like learning when to slow down, learning when to speed up, learning when to listen to the crowd,” BDE told The Sportster when asked about his learning experience in TNA thus far.
“A lot about promos too. A lot of people have been helping me with that because since I’m so new, there’s still a lot that I have to learn. So even Jeff Hardy in the back telling me just be as authentic as possible, keep smiling, it’s those things that just build up over time. All I look for is to get 1% better each time I’m out there, and eventually, that’ll stockpile and add up over time.”
BDE, known for creating popular content outside of the ring, initially started wrestling training in 2019. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that halted until 2024, when he finally stepped back into the squared circle. In 2025, BDE made his way around the independent wrestling circuit before landing a spot in TNA’s Call Your Shot Gauntlet at Bound For Glory in October. The following month, he marked his TNA singles debut by taking on former Digital Media Champion AJ Francis at Turning Point.
Later this week, BDE will face former TNA World Champion Nic Nemeth on “Thursday Night iMPACT.” Meanwhile, Jeff Hardy is coming off a win over Order 4’s Mustafa Ali on last week’s broadcast.
If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit The Sportster with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
I know this is a long time coming, but y’all deserve to read something coming from me. 
