AJ Styles Shares Experience of Being Overlooked in TNA for Not Being from WWE

AJ Styles has been considered one of the best pro wrestlers by both fans and his peers alike. After all, he has competed all over the world in numerous promotions such as WCW, TNA and NJPW. Now it appears Styles recalled being overlooked as the top guy in TNA simply because he wasn’t from WWE.

Before finding massive success in NJPW and WWE, AJ Styles made a name for himself in TNA for several years. He was undoubtedly one of the promotion’s best homegrown talents and many wanted him to join WWE, but Styles never did at that point.

Towards the end of his run in TNA Wrestling, AJ Styles was not booked as well as many wanted him. He eventually left the promotion after they severely underpaid him and Styles made his way to NJPW.

While speaking on Mark Andrews’ podcast, My Love Letter to Wrestling, AJ Styles recalled being overlooked as the top guy in TNA simply because he wasn’t from WWE. Styles noted how he is now a WWE guy and has no intention of going back to Impact Wrestling.

“Well, I think the guy for IMPACT is what most people saw me (as), but I wasn’t the guy to them. I was just AJ Styles who had been here, but their guy was more of a guy who had been from WWE. I think that’s who they looked (at) to do pretty much everything and I don’t think I was ever that guy for them, at least in their eyes. I think the fans said, ‘That’s our guy!’ But as far as the Dixie Carters of the world, they were like, ‘It’s more Kurt [Angle], or Sting. It’s not AJ.

Now there’s no going back to TNA. I’m the WWE guy now and this is what you had but you didn’t know it.”

AJ Styles will also be okay after his pro wrestling career ends. We’ll have to see whether The Phenomenal One will be able to beat Seth Rollins at Night Of Champions on May 27th and become the first-ever WWE World Heavyweight Champion this week.

What’s your view on what AJ Styles said? Do you think he was wasted in TNA towards the run of his run? Sound off in the comments!