A.J. Styles Returns to TNA After a Decade at Slammiversary; NXT Stars Celebrate Championship Wins

A.J. Styles Returns to TNA After a Decade at Slammiversary; NXT Stars Celebrate Championship Wins

A.J. Styles made a triumphant return to Total Nonstop Action wrestling, TNA, marking his first appearance since December 2013 during the Slammiversary pay-per-view on Sunday night.

The atmosphere in the UBS Arena was electric as Styles emerged to his iconic entrance theme. When the familiar line “get ready to fly” resonated, fans in Long Island reacted with an enthusiastic roar that could be felt throughout the venue.

Styles took a moment to relish the occasion, addressing the energetic crowd. He remarked, “It’s been a long road. Here I am in this ring in this company where my name was built. I am the phenomenal A.J. Styles.” The audience responded with cheers and applause as he continued, “There was a time where they said you may not be able to come back. But here I am, and I’m telling you the lights are a little bit brighter here, the crowd is a little bit louder here and Leon (Slater), the talent is better than it’s ever been.”

Styles went on to commend Slater, the newly crowned X-Division Champion, who made history by defeating Moose, securing his title at a remarkably young age.

A.J. Styles is widely regarded as one of the greatest talents ever to compete in TNA. His impressive accomplishments include six X-Division championship reigns, two TNA World Heavyweight Championship titles, and three National Wrestling Alliance heavyweight championships while associated with TNA. He embarked on his WWE journey in 2014, leaving an indelible mark since.

However, Styles’ return was not the only highlight of the evening. The event showcased a thrilling winner-takes-all match featuring Jacy Jayne, the reigning WWE NXT women’s champion, going head-to-head with Masha Slamovich, the TNA knockouts champion.

Jayne demonstrated her dominance in the ring, executing the Rolling Encore to secure a pinfall victory against Slamovich. This match stood out as one of the night’s best, leaving Jayne positioned to enter NXT on Tuesday night draped in dual championship titles.

The Hardys, the legendary tag team comprising Jeff and Matt Hardy, were also in action, challenging for the TNA Tag Team Championship in a highly competitive four-way ladder match. The defending champions, Nic and Ryan Nemeth, faced fierce competition from A.J. Francis, KC Navarro, Myron Reed, and Zachary Wentz.

In a display of his signature high-flying prowess, Jeff Hardy executed two breathtaking swanton dives onto Reed and Wentz. Furthermore, he introduced a swing-rope ladder into the fray, raising the stakes of the match.

The Hardys effectively fought off the Nemeth duo, with Jeff ultimately climbing the ladder to retrieve the championship titles as fans erupted in excitement.

Later in the evening, TNA Hall of Famer Bully Ray addressed The Hardys upon their victory. Ray, known for his partnerships in Team 3D with D’Von Dudley, issued a challenge to The Hardys for one final showdown at Bound for Glory in October. The camaraderie shown with handshakes indicated an anticipated match on the horizon.

The main event featured WWE NXT star Trick Williams defending the TNA World Championship against opponents Mike Santana and Joe Hendry. Santana entered the arena to an enthusiastic reception, generating a big fight atmosphere enhanced by the Harlem Gospel Ensemble performing his entrance music.

As the match progressed, Williams seemed to be in trouble, potentially injured as TNA medical personnel tended to him during the critical final moments. In a pivotal turn, Santana seized an opportunity to deliver his signature move, Spin the Block, to Hendry and attempted a pinfall.

Just when it appeared Santana would take the title, Williams made a surprising return to the ring, swiftly tossing Santana out, leading to his victory and retention of the championship.

Slammiversary achieved remarkable attendance numbers, setting a record for the most-attended U.S. wrestling event of all time with 7,623 attendees, a testament to the event’s significance and the continued support from wrestling fans.

As wrestling fans celebrate these memorable moments, the anticipation builds for upcoming events, including the much-anticipated rematch between The Hardys and Bully Ray.