Carlos Silva Says Creative Plans For AJ Styles At TNA Slammiversary ‘Changed A Few Times’

AJ Styles made his return to TNA Wrestling at TNA Slammiversary, showing up after Leon Slater won the TNA X-Division Title from Moose.

Styles put over the history of the X-Division and TNA, endorsing Slater in his promo.

Speaking to Jon Alba of Sports Illustrated’s The Takedown, TNA President Carlos Silva said creative plans for AJ Styles “changed a few times” leading up to the event, but the original plan was always to celebrate AJ’s X Division history.

Alba reports, “multiple TNA sources relayed that the former WWE Champion was expected to be in a segment involving Frankie Kazarian, but that plans shifted in the hours before the event.”

Kazarian was on commentary for the main event TNA World Title bout between Trick Williams, Mike Santana, and Joe Hendry. Kazarian made a reference to Styles while on commentary.

Alba continued in his report, “TNA sources believed WWE may have had some say in not wanting to promise a future match in the promotion for Styles that they weren’t going to deliver on, as no main roster talent has worked a TNA match so far during the partnership.”

Styles’ appearance at TNA Slammiversary was teased during the early portion of the week before being confirmed on Thursday’s TNA iMPACT! and made official with a press release on Friday morning.

Slater noted on social media that he had no idea Styles would be appearing following his victory.