Enthusiasm was already high for this weekend’s Slammiversary but now, with reports teasing WWE star AJ Styles could be returning to the company he helped put on the map in the 2000s, things are an at all-time high. Could Slammiversary truly be phenomenal with Styles’ first appearance in nearly 12 years?
TNA Don’t Want None…Unless its the Phenomenal One
TNA Slammiversary, one of the promotion’s biggest shows of the year, is just a few days away (you can check out all of our Slammiversary coverage here). All eyes will be on the UBS Arena where the top stars in the company along with some NXT stars including NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne and TNA World Heavyweight Champion Trick Williams will be in the house. However, there might be one other WWE name – who is no stranger to TNA fans – set to make an appearance if recent teases and call outs from the champ are any indication. Should that come to fruition, Slammiversary truly will be phenomenal.
While promoting TNA’s summer blockbuster company president Carlos Silva talked about how tickets were selling very well, so much so they decided to open up additional seats. He went on to promise an all caps “PHENOMENAL” event. Naturally, this got the wheels turning. Vice president Ross Forman echoed the sentiment in a tweet shortly after. Couple that with Trick Williams saying of all the WWE roster, he wants to defend his TNA World Championship against Styles and another PW Insider report confirming that “there have absolutely been talks” between the two sides for Styles to make an appearance and the belief that fans “hoping to see the prodigal son finally return home will be happy if you order or attend Slammiversary.” It all just feels like the stars are aligning.
We’re moving the stage back to accommodate more fans. This event will be TNA’s greatest achievement and trust me it’s going to be PHENOMENAL. #Slammiversary #TNA @ThisIsTNA pic.twitter.com/9BUxjiIQjj
— Carlos Silva (@carlossilva) July 15, 2025
That’s not to mention that recently at the Fanatics Fest, Styles doubled down on something he said in March, expressing his desire to wrestle at least one more match in TNA before calling it a career. When asked who he’d want to wrestle, there was no hesitation. “Frankie Kazarian, 100 percent.”
AJ Styles, Frankie Kazarian, and Trick Williams on the Road to Bound for Glory
Kazarian returned to TNA full time in 2023 following a four-year run in AEW. He has established himself as one of the top names in the company and has begun referring to himself as the King of TNA. He won the call-your-shot gauntlet at Bound for Glory in October, but was unsuccessful in his attempts to finally capture the world title that has alluded him for decades.
Styles wants to wrestle Kazarian and Williams wants to wrestle Styles. Imagine a world where they both get what they want. Styles defeats Williams to win the TNA World Championship for a third time (sixth if you include his three NWA Worlds Championship reigns when that belt was the top title in TNA) and his first title of any kind since 2021, assuming he doesn’t win the Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam. And perhaps that’s the story. Perhaps Dominik Mysterio is able to duck Styles for a match at SummerSlam so Styles gets fed up and pursues his gold elsewhere. Then Bound for Glory comes in October and Kazarian gets a title match against his old friend that the so-called King wins to claim his first-ever TNA World Championship. Or, if Styles truly does have just one match left, all three are booked in a world title triple threat at Bound for Glory. It all but writes itself assuming the two companies are willing to partner in what would be the biggest talent exchange to date.
Read More: AJ Styles Makes Surprise Slammiversary Appearance: “We Transcended Wrestling“
In many ways, Styles coming to WWE opened the door for this. It was his arrival that led to TNA being mentioned on WWE television, his special that featured Dixie Carter and highlights from his time in the promotion, his video that aired during TNA television when he was voted the most impactful X-Division wrestler in 2022. Prior to Styles’ arrival, The letters TNA meant something much different in WWE and were treated much differently as well. It’s only fitting that Styles has a chance to enjoy the fruits of his labor by making a few appearances in his old stomping grounds. And then, the tables can turn and the Hardys can return to the WWE main roster for a final run of their own.
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