Scrapped Plans For AJ Styles To Make NJPW Return In September 2022 Revealed

AJ Styles was close to making an unlikely return to New Japan Pro-Wrestling in September of last year.

Speaking on Talk'n Shop, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows revealed an idea pitched for their WWE return would have seen AJ Styles return to NJPW at the promotion's Burning Spirit event on September 25 to help Anderson retain his NEVER Openweight Title against Hiroshi Tanahashi. Gallows and Anderson would have then returned to WWE the next night on the September 26 edition of Monday Night Raw in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The pitch was quashed, though, as the trio wouldn't have been able to travel from Japan to Edmonton in time for Raw. 

"We were doing a FaceTime - it was our boss at the time, Triple H, Gallows, Anderson, AJ Styles, and we were figuring out what we were going to do. This would have probably been in September, maybe August, I don't know, but whatever it was, we'd almost basically decided on AJ Styles coming over and helping me win that match vs. Tanahashi, and then, the very next night would've been Monday Raw," Karl Anderson said.

Luke Gallows continued: "We were happy that, logistically, with what was going on in prior commitments, it didn't work out. Not because we don't like Edmonton. We had a great time in Edmonton, but we knew that the New York faithful would give it to us, and I think Edmonton would have given it to us as well, but New York's a hot place to make a comeback. We've been lucky with two WWE debuts together, the first being Staples Center in Los Angeles and then the return in the Barclays Center, New York City. WWE staples but kind of old-school Bullet Club staples. Maybe you call it 'a smarter audience.' I don't know, but they always are welcoming and give us a little love. We love that."

Gallows and Anderson ultimately returned to WWE on the October 10, 2022 episode of Raw and reformed The OC with AJ Styles as part of his feud with Finn Balor's Judgment Day. Michin has since been added to the stable. 

AJ Styles previously competed in New Japan from 2014 until January 2016, when he left to sign with WWE. He was the leader of Bullet Club during his time with the promotion and he is a two-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion. 

H/T to Fightful