logo
Who is AJ Styles? All About WWE Star and His Return to TNA at Slammiversary 2025 Being Big Deal

Who is AJ Styles? All About WWE Star and His Return to TNA at Slammiversary 2025 Being Big Deal

Pink Villa4 days ago
AJ Styles made a surprise return to TNA Wrestling at Slammiversary 2025, marking his first appearance with the company in over a decade. The moment took place at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, where nearly 7,000 fans erupted as his old theme song, Get Ready to Fly, played through the arena.
Styles appeared shortly after 20-year-old Leon Slater defeated Moose to win the X-Division Championship. Slater became the youngest X-Division Champion in TNA history. Styles congratulated him, saying, 'TNA, did you miss me?' as fans responded with loud cheers and chants of 'Welcome home!'
AJ Styles praises Leon Slater and reflects on his past
In the ring, AJ Styles praised Slater and the current state of the X-Division. He said, 'The division has a bright future with him.' Fans then chanted for 'one more match,' hoping for a return to action from the 48-year-old wrestler. Styles did not confirm any future matches, saying only, 'We'll get to that.'
His return follows the multi-year partnership between WWE and TNA announced in January. This agreement has led to talent exchanges between WWE's NXT and TNA. Notably, Joe Hendry, a former TNA World Champion, appeared at both the WWE Royal Rumble and WrestleMania this year.
Who is AJ Styles and why is his return celebrated?
AJ Styles is one of the most respected professional wrestlers in the industry. He wrestled for TNA from 2002 to 2014, where he became the first X-Division Champion and later the company's first Triple Crown and Grand Slam Champion. He held the TNA World Heavyweight Title five times and was known for his high-flying, athletic style.
His match against Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels at Unbreakable 2005 is still regarded as one of the greatest matches in professional wrestling history. Styles helped shape TNA's identity during its most important years and played a key role in the popularity of the X-Division.
Before appearing at Slammiversary, Styles posted a message to fans titled 'Two Eras. One Legacy. AJ Returns.' In it, he reflected on his journey and growth as a wrestler.
"If I had the ability to go back in time, I'd tell myself, 'You have no idea how far this ride's about to take you,'" Styles wrote. He added, "All the ups, the downs, the doubts, they're gonna shape you into one of the best in the world."
"Don't lose that chip on your shoulder, but learn when to let go of your pride," he continued. "Stay humble, stay hungry, and trust God's timing, it's perfect, even when it doesn't feel like it. You're not just phenomenal. You're built for this."
Is AJ Styles returning to TNA full-time?
It is not confirmed whether Styles will continue appearing in TNA Wrestling. He is still an active WWE superstar and has not officially announced a return run. His Slammiversary appearance could be a one-time event or part of future cross-brand moments.
Fans remain hopeful that AJ Styles will wrestle at least one more match in TNA. His influence on the company and the wrestling world is significant, and his presence at Slammiversary 2025 reminded fans why he is considered one of the greatest of all time.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Why does Black Twitter hate Hulk Hogan?: All about the controversy that cost him his WWE career
Why does Black Twitter hate Hulk Hogan?: All about the controversy that cost him his WWE career

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

Why does Black Twitter hate Hulk Hogan?: All about the controversy that cost him his WWE career

Image credits: X Hulk Hogan , born Terry Gene Bollea, was a popular American wrestler known for his theatrics that transformed professional wrestling into a family entertainment game. He started a pop culture phenomenon called "Hulkamania" after defeating the Iron Sheik for the World Heavyweight Championship in 1984, and his signature look of a bandana and handlebar moustache is still followed by fans worldwide. The 71-year-old was best known for his work with WWE and World Championship Wrestling. On July 24th, 2025, Hogan was pronounced dead at his home in Clearwater, Florida, due to a cardiac arrest. Image credits: X While the media personality and wrestler was loved by fans of the sport and his theatrics in general, there is a section of people who are celebrating the legend's death. Black Twitter, a cultural identity on Twitter (now X), highlighted Black voices and perspectives. People part of the community and Black people in general have been celebrating Hulk Hogan's death with posts on X, such as "Satan about to have his way with you, "brother'." The post mentioned has received 144.7K views with 4K likes. "Me understanding this tweet with a straight face knowing what I know," commented an X user under the post. "Cackling 😆😆😆" and "I'm tired of liking these tweets man," added others. Why is it so? Let's figure it out below! Why does Black Twitter hate Hulk Hogan? Image credits: X While Hogan is one of the most popular and respected WWE wrestlers, in 2015, not only was he removed from the WWE Hall of Fame, but his contract was even suspended by WWE. The wrestler was facing major backlash and protest after a transcript revealed him using racist language during a conversation. The audio was a part of a 2007 sex tape involving him and Heather Clem, wife of his friend Bubba the Love Sponge. It was leaked in 2012 and was made public as a part of his legal battle with Gawker Media. Hogan could be heard repeatedly using the N-word and making racially offensive comments about his daughter Brooke's life, sharing his anger and discomfort as she was dating a Black man. Not only did Hogan face criticism from the Black community and his followers, but as per People and other outlets at the time, WWE said that it was "committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds." Additionally, at the same time, Bay News 9 uncovered racist comments from 2008 jailhouse phone calls between Hogan and his son Nick, who was serving time for a car crash that left a friend permanently disabled. In one of such calls, he was heard using the N-word and making stereotypical remarks about race, adding insult to injury. As an apology for his behaviour Hogan released a public statement, saying: "Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation. It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it. This is not who I am. I believe very strongly that every person in the world is important and should not be treated differently based on race, gender, orientation, religious beliefs or otherwise. I am disappointed with myself that I used language that is offensive and inconsistent with my own beliefs." As for his lawsuit with Gawker, it culminated in a $140 million jury award, which was later settled for $31 million. While he was reinstated in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018, Hogan's actions seem to have left a permanent mark on the Black community.

"My partner. My heart."- Hulk Hogan's widow Sky Daily posts a heartfelt note after the passing of the wrestling star
"My partner. My heart."- Hulk Hogan's widow Sky Daily posts a heartfelt note after the passing of the wrestling star

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

"My partner. My heart."- Hulk Hogan's widow Sky Daily posts a heartfelt note after the passing of the wrestling star

Hulk Hogan and Sky Daily (Image via Instagram) Hulk Hogan 's death came as a shock to many, more so to his family members who have been with him through the toughest of times. Hogan had been married thrice, with Sky Daily being his third wife, whom he married in October of 2023. After the sudden passing of the wrestling great, Daily has now taken to her social media account to post a heartfelt note, mourning her loss and sharing it with the fans of the legend. Sky Daily is heartbroken at the passing of her husband Hulk Hogan While they weren't married for long, Sky Daily and Hulk Hogan shared a pretty good relationship and were often seen together out and about. 2025 had been tough for the couple, as Hogan battled multiple health issues and was in and out of the hospital quite a few times. After the sudden demise of the WWE star on the morning of July 24, the whole world seemed to have come under a stupor, and of course, the late legend's wife was one of them as well. "I wasn't ready for this…and my heart is in pieces," she wrote, further adding, "This loss is sudden and impossible to process. To the world, he was a legend… but to me, he was my Terry. The man I loved. My partner. My heart.' She also spoke of how much he loved his fans and what it meant for him to get so much love from them. She concluded the post by asking everyone to pray for the family in such trying times. Hulk Hogan had been dealing with health issues recently Hulk Hogan had been in and out of the hospital this year and had multiple surgeries for his neck and back issues. In fact, earlier this year, talks of him being in his "deathbed" and even rumors of him being in a coma were all over social media. His wife, Sky Daily, also addressed his health issues , saying that while he had been dealing with health issues, everyone believed he would pull through. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Unfortunately, after a massive cardiac arrest that saw him being wheeled out of his Clearwater, Florida home to the nearest hospital, Hogan passed away at the age of 71. He leaves behind his wife, Daily, and his two children - Brooke and Nick. Also Read: From Ric Flair's breakdown to a despondent Vince McMahon, WWE stars mourn the passing of legendary wrestler Hulk Hogan For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!

Varun Dhawan to Arjun Kapoor, celebs mourn WWE icon Hulk Hogan's death
Varun Dhawan to Arjun Kapoor, celebs mourn WWE icon Hulk Hogan's death

India Today

time3 hours ago

  • India Today

Varun Dhawan to Arjun Kapoor, celebs mourn WWE icon Hulk Hogan's death

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) star Hulk Hogan, 71, died Thursday in Florida, leaving sports and entertainment community mourning. Indian celebrities, including actors Varun Dhawan and Arjun Kapoor mourend the death of wrestling reshared a social media tribute by WWE on his Instagram story which read, "WWE is saddened to learn legendary WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture's most recognisable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan's family, friends, and fans." Varun Dhawan paid tribute to wrestling legend Hulk Hogan (Credit: Instagram/varundvn) advertisementThe actor captioned the story as, "You inspired an entire generation, Hulkster. RIP." Arjun also reshared a post about Hogan's legacy on his Instagram story with a heartfelt caption. He wrote, "A part of my childhood just went with you Hulkster. Thank you for the memories." Arjun Kapoor dedicated an emotional note to WWE icon Hulk Hogan. (Credit: Instagram/arjunkapoor) Hollywood stars like Sylvester Stallone, Dwayne Johnson and Brooke Shields also paid their respects to the WWE icon. Sylvester shared a still from 'Rocky 3' (1985) on his Instagram handle in which he has a fight scene with Hogan. The actor captioned his post as, "I had the pleasure of meeting this brilliant personality and showman when he was 26 years old. He was absolutely wonderful and his amazing skill made Rocky three incredibly special. My heart breaks. I think that he's gone"Brooke, in her emotional Instagram post, wrote, "Rest easy, Hulk. This moment and his entire guest episode on 'Suddenly Susan' was a true highlight. Sending love to all of his loved ones today." Actors Sylvester Stallone and Brooke Shields paid heartfelt tribute to WWE legend Hulk Hogan. (Credit: Instagram/slystallone/brookeshields) Dwayne, who is also a WWE wrestler apart from being an actor, shared a video of his wrestling match with Hogan along with a long note. He wrote, "Rest in Peace, Terry Bollea aka The Immortal Hulk Hogan. To millions of little kids you were a childhood hero - myself included." He also reminisced memories of being inspired by the wrestling icon to facing him on the ring as a 29-year-old. Dwayne Johnson paud an emotional tribute to Hulk Hogan. (Credit: Instagram/therock) Actor Chris Hemsworth was earlier prepping for a biopic on Hogan, but the project got shelved due to production WWE star was known for his professional wrestling career. His real name was Terry wrestler was pronounced dead at the hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest at his home in Florida, as reported by TMZ.- EndsMust Watch

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store