AJ Styles’ TNA career is a saga of highs and lows, filled with championship victories, unforgettable rivalries, and controversial storylines that shaped his legacy. Spanning from his early successes to his turbulent final years, Styles’ journey in TNA showcases both his undeniable talent and the chaotic creative choices that impacted his trajectory in the promotion.
Regaining World Title Amidst Tag Team Chaos
Following the conclusion of his first NWA World Heavyweight Championship reign, AJ Styles faced challenges before reclaiming the title from Jeff Jarrett. Initially, he entered the tag team scene with Abyss, competing for the NWA World Tag Team Championships. Despite Abyss abandoning the match midway, Styles secured the victory. Their rivalry continued with two intense matches for the championships—Styles won the first via disqualification, while Abyss claimed the second after interference by Lex Luger.
By March, Styles earned the status of #1 Contender to the NWA World Championship and captured his second world title in a Steel Cage match against Jarrett. He successfully defended the belt against Ron Killings, Raven, and Chris Harris, but lost it in a Fatal Four-Way match due to interference, though it did not return directly to Jarrett. Early TNA was highly influenced by Jarrett, which limited the opportunities for other talents to firmly ascend to the top ranks, including promising wrestlers like Monty Brown.
Masters of the X-Division and Style’s Resurgence
After losing the World Championship, Styles returned to the X-Division, further elevating it as TNA’s signature showcase. The combination of the high-flying X-Division and the unique six-sided ring differentiated TNA from other companies. Styles secured his third X-Division Championship by defeating Frankie Kazarian and engaged in engaging rivalries with Kid Kash and Dallas, with Jeff Hardy’s TNA debut also intersecting with Styles’ path.
He dropped the title in a rare co-champion scenario when Michael Shane and Kazarian simultaneously claimed the championship in an Ultimate X match—a rare example of unconventional booking. Ultimately, Styles closed his feud with Kash after winning a Tables match and contended for the title against Petey Williams at the inaugural Victory Road. Though unsuccessful then, he won his fourth X-Division Championship soon after by triumphing over Chris Sabin and Williams in an Ultimate X match at Final Resolution.
The Ultimate X match became a defining fixture in TNA, allowing athletes like Styles to display their agility on the overhead cables, creating unique in-ring moments. Subsequently, Styles faced Christopher Daniels in a classic rivalry. After failing to defeat Daniels in a ten-minute time limit match, Styles accepted a 30-minute Iron Man challenge at Against All Odds, which he won. The match showcased their technical skill and chemistry, cementing both as standout performers. However, Daniels would reclaim the title at Destination X in a challenging Ultimate X match featuring other top contenders.
Brief Return to World Championship Glory
AJ Styles’ third reign as NWA World Champion began after defeating Abyss at Lockdown and besting Jeff Jarrett at Hard Justice. His tenure was short-lived, ending with a loss to Raven in a King of the Mountain match at Slammiversary. Jarrett soon recaptured the championship, reinforcing the cyclical nature of the early TNA title scene and his dominant presence.
The Legendary 2005 Super X Cup and Classic Triple Threats
Though away from world title gold, Styles remained a dominant force in the X-Division, entering the 2005 Super X Cup Tournament. After defeating Matt Bentley and Petey Williams, Styles fell to Samoa Joe in the finals, a match filled with intense action and storyline drama. Due to interference by Daniels, Styles was added to the title match at Unbreakable, resulting in a Triple Threat bout with Joe and Daniels that earned praise as Styles’ only full five-star rating from Dave Meltzer. Two decades later, the match remains a highlight of his TNA tenure.
Winning that match secured Styles his fifth X-Division Championship, leading to notable defenses including another 30-minute Iron Man rematch against Daniels and a bout with Petey Williams at Genesis. Following a violent attack on Daniels by Joe, Styles challenged Joe’s breach of the division’s code but eventually lost the championship to Joe at Turning Point. He failed to recapture it in rematches at Against All Odds and Destination X, where Daniels reclaimed the title. The longstanding rivalry evolved into a partnership as Styles and Daniels joined forces.
Tag Team Success with Christopher Daniels
AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels became a formidable tag team, targeting the NWA World Tag Team Championships. Though initially unsuccessful, they overcame America’s Most Wanted at Slammiversary to earn Styles’ third NWA World Tag Team title. They defended the belts successfully against LAX, but soon lost them in a brutal Border Brawl. Regaining the titles at No Surrender, the duo again dropped them at Bound for Glory in a intense Six Sides of Steel match.
The partnership between Styles and Daniels was remarkable; their years of rivalry and teamwork created compelling wrestling moments. Their combined experience and chemistry offered the kind of match quality fans expected when two elite wrestlers shared the ring, whether as opponents or allies.
Final Reign as X-Division Champion and Growing Frustrations
After losing the tag titles, Styles defeated Chris Sabin on Impact Wrestling to start his sixth and final run as X-Division Champion, simultaneously entering the Fight for the Right tournament to challenge Sting’s NWA World Heavyweight title. Despite success in earlier rounds, Styles lost to Abyss in the finals and later dropped the X-Division title to Daniels in a Triple Threat match.
In a significant turning point, Styles began shifting to a heel persona, blaming Daniels after a loss to Christian Cage at Genesis. This led to a feud with Rhino, who tried to repair Styles and Daniels’ fractured friendship. Styles briefly teamed with Samoa Joe to overcome Rhino and Kurt Angle but suffered losses in high-stakes matches at Final Resolution and Destination X, marking one of the more frustrating chapters of his TNA career. Despite being a foundational figure and multiple-time Triple Crown winner, Styles was often overshadowed by veterans like Cage, Angle, and later Ric Flair.
The Christian Coalition: A Heel Turn with Flairish Flair
Aligning with Christian Cage, Styles formed the Christian Coalition, embracing a darker, heelish style complete with chest hair—an ironic nod to early 2000s villain aesthetics. Although they lost to the Angel Alliance at Lockdown, Styles and Tomko’s team bounced back by winning a Ten-Tag Gauntlet to become #1 Contenders for the TNA World Tag Team Championships.
They secured Styles’ first TNA World Tag Team Championship by defeating Team Pacman at Bound for Glory. The decision to feature Adam Jones as part of the storyline was widely criticized due to his controversial nature outside the ring. The champions successfully defended against teams like LAX and The Steiner Brothers at Genesis, but inadvertently cost Christian Cage a world title opportunity that same night. Cage’s TNA run was notable for his self-made ascent, and had his later WWE stint been better, he might have been seen as a precursor to talents like Cody Rhodes.
Allegiances Shift: The Angle Alliance and Personal Feuds
Styles’ loyalties shifted when he sided with Kurt Angle over Christian Cage at Final Resolution. Creative took an unusual angle by scripting Styles as accidentally married to Karen Angle, an idea widely panned and difficult to follow. Styles and Tomko lost the tag titles to Kaz and Super Eric, while tension with Angle escalated over accusations of an affair, which ultimately pushed Styles to leave the Angle Alliance and turn face again.
Styles and Angle engaged in a brutal rivalry culminating in a Last Man Standing match victory for Styles at Hard Justice. Their feud concluded in a Ladder match, where Styles also won Angle’s Olympic Gold Medal—an atypical yet symbolic prize solidifying the end of their bitter conflict.
The Frontline Battles the Main Event Mafia
Following his feud with Angle, Styles found himself opposing the powerful Main Event Mafia faction, consisting of Angle, Kevin Nash, Booker T, and Sting. The faction was reminiscent of the WCW Millionaire’s Club but executed more effectively in TNA. Styles allied with Samoa Joe and a faction known as The Frontline, comprised of younger talent, standing against the established Main Event Mafia, which had recruited Scott Steiner.
Styles challenged Sting for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship at Turning Point but was unsuccessful. In January, Angle defeated Styles in a Tables match, resulting in a storyline injury. At Against All Odds, Styles returned by stealing Booker T’s Legends Championship, which he later won at Destination X, marking him as TNA’s first Grand Slam Champion.
Participating in the King of the Mountain match at Slammiversary, Styles failed to secure victory after Samoa Joe’s unexpected betrayal helped Angle win. Ratings and storytelling suffered as the Main Event Mafia angle stalled without a satisfying payoff, and Styles was left sidelined despite his position as the company’s face. The storyline ultimately dissolved when the Mafia merged with World Elite in 2009.
Ascension to TNA World Champion and Heel Transformation
By August, considering retirement, Styles was persuaded by Sting to continue. At No Surrender, he captured his first official TNA World Championship and then ended Sting’s Bound for Glory winning streak. Following attacks by a mystery assailant, Styles’ suspicions targeted Daniels and Joe, leading to a rematch four years in the making. Though not reaching the heights of their earlier encounters, the match earned a strong 4.5-star rating.
Styles defended his title against Desmond Wolfe and Daniels, with notable praise for Wolfe’s potential despite his long absence due to illness. At Genesis, Ric Flair’s interference helped Styles defeat Angle, initiating Styles’ second heel turn. Styles’ new persona as the “New Nature Boy,” mimicking Flair’s style and mannerisms, was met with fan bewilderment and mostly negative reactions, as it conflicted with Styles’ prior identity as TNA’s heroic cornerstone.
During this reign, Styles continued defending the title against top stars including Angle in a controversial Montreal Screwjob-inspired finish and Jeff Joe at Against All Odds, aided again by Flair. A no-contest with Abyss occurred at Destination X after a chokeslam through the ring, while a clean title defense came against D’Angelo Dinero at Lockdown. Styles lost the championship to debuting Rob Van Dam after a 211-day reign, a then-record later surpassed by Bobby Roode and Josh Alexander.
His rematch for the title at Sacrifice ended in defeat, and growing tensions within Flair’s circle saw Styles become jealous of Kazarian, who was favored by Flair. This jealousy culminated in losses against Jay Lethal, highlighting viewer frustration with booking decisions during the Hogan and Bischoff era, perceived as diminishing Styles’ momentum and prominence.
Fortune: The New Four Horsemen and Their Tumultuous Path
Flair expanded his faction by recruiting Desmond Wolfe, Bobby Roode, and James Storm, naming the group Fortune, a modern take on the legendary Four Horsemen. Fortune feuded with EV 2.0, a stable of ECW veterans, a storyline that faced resistance from fans who felt ECW’s peak had passed by 2010.
Styles secured a victory over EV 2.0 leader Tommy Dreamer in an I Quit match at No Surrender. However, Fortune lost to EV 2.0 in a brutal Lethal Lockdown match at Bound for Glory—an intense cage battle akin to the WarGames concept. Fortune soon allied with Hogan and Bischoff’s dominant group Immortal, winning a Ten-Man Tag match at Turning Point that led to Sabu’s firing.
Fortune’s alliance with Immortal was short-lived. They soon turned face by attacking Immortal during a match interference, but this shift was complicated by Flair’s injury absence and later alliance with Immortal upon his return. Styles experienced a mix of victories and defeats, including a powerbomb off the stage by Bully Ray that sidelined him for months. He returned to help Fortune overcome Immortal but eventually engaged in a drawn-out feud with stablemate Christopher Daniels. Their rivalry produced several strong matches marked by respect and competitiveness, highlighted by Styles winning an I Quit match at Bound for Glory.
Attempts to regain the TNA World Championship fell short as Styles lost key matches to Bobby Roode, including a sudden-death tie-breaker episode of Impact Wrestling, a booking choice criticized for lack of payoff. The Fortune faction dwindled as Kazarian departed during the Wild Card Tournament finals, ending this troubled chapter of Styles’ career.
Controversial Feud with Bad Influence and Gooker Award-Winning Storyline
Following Fortune’s decline, Styles’ feud extended against former allies Kazarian and Daniels. Although Kazarian recorded wins over Styles, the latter found support teaming with Mr. Anderson to triumph over his rivals at Victory Road and the annual Lethal Lockdown event.
One of TNA’s most ill-received angles involved Daniels and Kazarian accusing Styles of a secret relationship with Dixie Carter, the company president, supported by a fabricated set of photographs. This storyline was later revealed to be a cover-up to protect an addicted, pregnant woman named Claire Lynch. The arc was abruptly canceled and awarded the infamous Gooker Award for poor creative decisions, lacking any satisfactory conclusion.
Despite the flawed storyline, the feud yielded several memorable matches, such as Styles and Angle defeating Daniels and Kazarian at Slammiversary and Styles besting Daniels in a Last Man Standing match at Destination X, culminating in a final victory at Final Resolution.
The Lone Wolf Emerges and Departure from TNA
In early 2013, TNA aired interviews showing a different, darker version of Styles who rejected alliances, most notably with the faction Aces and Eights. This incarnation, dubbed The Lone Wolf, showcased a disheveled, unshaven Styles wearing black and exhibiting a new attitude.
Styles earned a title shot at Bully Ray’s TNA World Championship by winning the 2013 Bound for Glory Series and defeated Bully Ray to capture his fifth World Championship. Soon after, he declined a new contract, leaving TNA with the title in tow. This forced Dixie Carter to vacate the championship, leading Styles to return and unify his title with Magnus’ version, effectively ending their dual championship confusion.
This marked the conclusion of AJ Styles’ twelve-year tenure with TNA, as he declined a contract offer that would have significantly reduced his pay by 60%.
International Appearances During TNA Tenure
While competing in TNA, Styles also made notable appearances in international promotions. He debuted in AAA in 2006 at Verano de Escandalo, claimed victory over Senshi in IGF in 2007, and competed in New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom II with teammates Christian Cage and Petey Williams.
His NJPW stint in 2008 included both wins and losses in high-profile tag matches involving stars like Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kurt Angle, Masahiro Chono, and Shinsuke Nakamura. He also appeared in CMLL’s International Gran Prix, returning to AAA in 2011 and 2013, successfully defending his TNA World Heavyweight Championship against El Mesias. His final international match under TNA’s banner came in 2013 in Wrestle-1 against Seiya Sanada.
Return to Ring of Honor and Independent Circuit
After departing TNA, Styles promptly returned to Ring of Honor. He secured wins over Roderick Strong, Jay Lethal, and Chris Hero, and earned a #1 Contender spot by winning a Fatal Four-Way match at All Star Extravaganza VII. Although unsuccessful at Final Battle against Lethal, Styles remained active in ROH, making his last appearance in January 2016. In a memorable moment, Jay Lethal, Roderick Strong, and The House of Truth interrupted him, only for Styles’ former Bullet Club partners—Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson, and The Young Bucks—to come to his aid in a symbolic reunion.
On the independents, Styles captured the RPW British Heavyweight Championship in 2014, defended the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at House of Glory High Intensity 4, competed in PWG’s Battle of Los Angeles, and teamed with The Young Bucks in the 2015 Chikara King of Trios tournament. He eventually lost the British Heavyweight title to Zack Sabre Jr. and recorded his final independent victory against Corey Hollis at Georgia Premier Wrestling.
AJ Styles’ TNA career was marked by undeniable talent hindered at times by poor creative decisions and inconsistent pushes. Though he should have been the company’s definitive top star, Styles frequently played second fiddle to aging legends or became embroiled in illogical storylines. Nevertheless, his perseverance helped build the foundation for an illustrious career that would flourish beyond TNA’s borders.
