Before WWE star AJ Styles hangs up his wrestling boots in 2026, TNA World Champion Mike Santana goals to face him in a TNA ring, specifically with the title on the road. Styles himself is sold on the concept as well. With regards to the likelihood of the match actually happening, nonetheless, Styles is not too confident.
“I used to be hoping that this could occur. I actually was, but then I noticed it probably never could so far as WWE letting me do this,” Styles said on “No-Contest Wrestling.” “I’ll inform you why. It’s because as soon as I open those gates for the primary roster talent, now everybody’s gonna need to do it.
“I do not know if it’ll occur if I’m being honest, but I would really like to, do not get me incorrect. What a moment it was after I was capable of return, but I just don’t see a match happening as of straight away. NXT has got the partnership, not the primary roster talent. Listen, I wish I could do it. I believe I ought to be the one guy to do it, but that is being very selfish. So we’ll see what happens in the long run. I do not know necessarily, but we’ll discover together.”
As Styles alluded to, he made a surprise return to TNA on the 2025 Slammiversary event, during which he heavily praised the newly-crowned X-Division Champion Leon Slater. Crowd chants of “another match” buzzed within the air as well.
Styles’ appearance at Slammiversary materialized largely because of the multi-year partnership formed between WWE and TNA. Excluding Joe Hendry’s outings on the 2025 Royal Rumble and WWE WrestleMania 41, though, cross-promotional matches have only involved stars of TNA and “WWE NXT,” the latter of which serves as WWE’s developmental brand.
In the event you use any of the quotes in this text, please credit “No-Contest Wrestling” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.