WWE star AJ Styles to make TNA return at Slammiversary for the first time in 11 years
On Friday, TNA Wrestling president Carlos Silva confirmed with Uncrowned that the two-time WWE Champion will return to TNA for its annual Slammiversary event this Sunday night at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.
Styles hasn't been involved with TNA in any capacity since his departure in 2014. Silva declined to reveal what TNA and Styles have in store for the legend's return, but he confirmed that the stage at UBS Arena will be pushed back to accommodate more fans for what is expected to be the biggest TNA event ever.
Styles, 48, was a fixture of the company for more than a decade, wrestling under the TNA banner from 2002-14. He's widely considered to be one of the all-time greats of TNA, thanks to his numerous accomplishments, including five world title wins. Styles is a "Grand Slam" champion in TNA, meaning he's held every title in the promotion at least once. Many of Styles' matches with the likes of Christopher Daniels, Samoa Joe, Kurt Angle, Abyss and Jeff Jarrett are some of the most revered in TNA history. Styles' 2005 triple-threat match with Daniels and Joe was the first of only two Wrestling Observer five-star matches ever for TNA.
In recent weeks on "WWE Raw," Styles has been seen pursuing an Intercontinental title match with the champion, Dominick Mysterio. Styles has been with WWE since 2016, when he made a surprise debut in that year's Royal Rumble match.
While Styles' role at Slammiversary remains a mystery, the TNA World Championship will be on the line on the show, as NXT star and current TNA champion Trick Williams will defend against the man he dethroned, Joe Hendry, along with Mike Santana, in a triple-threat match. NXT Women's Champion Jacy Jayne is also back in action after her big title defense against Jordynne Grace at WWE Evolution. She'll go toe-to-toe with TNA Knockouts World Champion Masha Slamovich in a winner-takes-all match with both of their titles on the line.
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