Well, this is a strange one now, isn’t it?
For years, WWE has been very careful about mentioning rival company, TNA, in any way.
The letters are seldom mentioned on television (unless Kurt Angle is telling Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn where to find a job) and few wrestlers ever have their past accomplishments advertised.
WWE even managed to induct Jeff Jarrett into the Hall of Fame, the man who founded the NWA sub-sect, without a mention of the company.
However, it appears Vince’s empire is set to promote his biggest post-WCW nemesis.
WWE Champion (at 213 days at the time of this writing) AJ Styles is set to have part of his TNA career covered on “Something Else To Wrestle.”
While this isn’t the very first time IMPACT footage will be used in WWE programming, it is the first time it’s being outwardly stated and promoted.
“We’re going to cover from October 2010, which is right when Bruce [Prichard] came into the company, and we’ll carry it right to July of 2013.”
“AJ was a TNA original, so when he parted ways with TNA in 2013, history changed forever. That exodus, with AJ leaving, started an immediate sharp decline in TNA.”
-Conrad Thompson
Styles was a major part of what is now known as IMPACT Wrestling in its early days. He is one of the many “TNA originals” to have crossed over to WWE in recent years. Along with Styles, names such as Samoa Joe, Bobby Roode, Austin Aries (who has since gone back), and a few others have swapped companies. Styles, though, seems to be the first of that crop to have his TNA history explored.
Are you surprised to see IMPACT promoted and explored in-depth on a WWE Network show? Let us know in the comments below or get in touch with us on Twitter.
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