Report: WWE Possibly Played Role In AJ Styles' TNA Slammiversary Plans Being Changed

Plans for AJ Styles at TNA Slammiversary may have been changed as a result of influence from WWE.

Styles had not appeared in TNA Wrestling since December 2013 when he exited the promotion, but the six-time world champion in TNA returned at Slammiversary, making his way to the ring to 'Get Ready to Fly' following Leon Slater's X-Division Title win.

Styles then proceeded to put over Leon Slater, while also reflecting on his own time in the promotion. AJ noted he would address having one more TNA match another time, though.

Heading into Slammiversary, several TNA wrestlers were optimistic that Styles would set up an angle to work a future match in the promotion and The Takedown on SI has reported that the expectation was the former WWE Champion would be in a segment with Frankie Kazarian on July 20. Those plans changed in the hours before Slammiversary, with TNA President Carlos Silva even admitting to The Takedown on SI that plans for Styles "changed a few times." Silva claimed, however, that the original plan was always to celebrate Styles' history as part of the X-Division.

It was further noted that sources within TNA believed WWE may have played a role in not wanting to promise a future Styles match in TNA that they weren't going to deliver on, since no main roster talent has wrestled for TNA since the working relationship between the two companies was formalised.

While plans may have changed for Styles, his appearance at Slammiversary was met with universal positivity from talent and officials. Leon Slater has also noted that Styles' appearing after his X-Division Title win was a complete surprise, something which looked to be the case based on his immedate reaction to the moment.

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