WWE Names Reflect On AJ Styles Time In TNA Wrestling

WWE/TNA Wrestling

The history of AJ Styles has been explored by two former TNA Wrestling names who shared their thanks after the WWE star’s final match.

With a career of more than twenty years, AJ Styles wrestled his last match at the WWE Royal Rumble, losing to GUNTHER.

It was recently reported that the decision was made for that to be the retirement match while WWE and AJ Styles worked on a new deal, with no new arrangement signed at the time of writing.

In a video released on the WWE YouTube channel, a number of names shared their thoughts on AJ Styles after his recent retirement.

One such name was Petey Williams, who has worked as a producer in WWE since 2022 and was previously a TNA Wrestling star.

Addressing the impact that Styles had on his career, Williams stated he doesn’t know where he would have been without the influence of the star, saying:

“When I first came to TNA, you helped me a lot in my career. You were that guy, that star in the company that really saw something in me and helped elevate me to that next level and made me a star in the X-Division and the whole company.

“I just want to say thank you for that. If it weren’t for you, I don’t know where I’d be. I know you would talk to the people making the decisions and stuff and say, ‘Hey, this kid is good man.’

“Helped me get over the Canadian Destroyer, I couldn’t have done any of that without you. Had some of my favorite matches with you. But you’re gonna have so much fun in your next life with the kids.

“Happy retirement, man, gonna miss you.”

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Williams’ tenure in TNA Wrestling would see him compete between 2004 and 2009, with a brief return in 2013, and a legacy that saw him as a two-time X Division Champion.

Another mainstay from TNA would also share their thoughts on Styles, with current WWE referee Dan Engler saying:

“I got the chance to work with AJ Styles many, many times over the years. Not only WWE, of course, but in TNA Wrestling. He’s the best.

“I first met him in 2002 at the first TNA show. He had a match with Dusty Rhodes, the Bunkhouse Brawl. I got the referee that, which was so much fun.

“Then, I had the match with AJ and Cody Rhodes, and it was such a cool moment just to be like… man, I know, I feel like Dusty’s looking down smiling at that. Just a special moment just to be in there with my friends.

“I’m so happy. AJ is the man. As good as he is in the ring, he’s an even better human being. Awesome father. Awesome husband. Awesome friend.”

Styles left TNA Wrestling in 2013 and would return to the independent scene before signing with WWE in 2016.

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• wwe
• AJ Styles
• Petey Williams
• tna wrestling

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