Before his WWE debut, AJ Styles built his reputation as a professional wrestler within TNA, emerging as one of the promotion’s defining figures. Although he concluded his career after a decade with WWE, Jeff Jarrett asserts that Styles’ legacy remains deeply tied to TNA, where he first made his mark.
Jarrett Highlights Styles’ Impact on TNA
Speaking on his podcast, My World with Jeff Jarrett, Jarrett expressed his view on Styles’ lasting relationship with TNA.
“Do I consider AJ still a TNA guy? … I didn’t give it any conscious thought, but I think, beyond a shadow of a doubt, [I] do,”
Jarrett said.
“It is definitely where he’s made his name; it’s where he [became] a performer.”
Jarrett pointed to key moments in Styles’ early career, recalling,
“He is the face of TNA from the very first night. He was on show one, the first X-Division Champion,”
and added,
“I knew from, I’d almost say day one, that’s the face of the company, that there’s going to be a lot of things in time.”
Styles as a Pioneer of Modern Wrestling Style
Jarrett also shared a recent encounter with a stranger at the gym that reinforced Styles’ influence on contemporary wrestling. Reflecting on the evolution of the sport as 2026 approaches, Jarrett explained,
“When you really think about 2026 – the modern style of professional wrestling – in so many ways, you kind of think about, ‘Oh, look at the style now’ and in a lot of the ways, it has its roots in the X-Division.”
He continued,
“So, in a lot of ways, AJ – a lot of guys grew up on him that are now wrestling. He is the face of the modern style of wrestling.”
Ongoing Legacy and Future Prospects
Given Styles’ significant influence and career achievements, Jarrett emphasizes that his journey as a wrestler is far from finished.
“Man, oh, man. What a career. I don’t think it’s over!”
Jarrett concluded, underscoring the enduring impact Styles holds within the wrestling community.
If quoting this article, please credit My World with Jeff Jarrett and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
