In one of the most unforgettable moments of TNA Slammiversary, AJ Styles made his long-awaited return to TNA Wrestling, sending the crowd into an absolute frenzy.
Walking out to his classic “Get Ready to Fly” entrance theme, Styles soaked in the reaction before taking the mic. Reflecting on his storied career, he admitted it’s been a long journey—but emphasized that he’s finally back where it all began.
Styles didn’t shy away from addressing the doubts that swirled over the years about whether he’d ever step into a TNA ring again. But as he put it, now that he’s here, the lights shine a little brighter—and the talent roster has never looked stronger.
One star in particular earned Styles’ praise: Leon Slater. After Slater’s milestone victory over Moose to become the youngest X-Division Champion in TNA history, Styles gave him a heartfelt nod, saying Slater didn’t just earn the title—he deserved it.
AJ also paid tribute to the names that built TNA from the ground up, mentioning legends like Samoa Joe, Christopher Daniels, Chris Sabin, Jerry Lynn, Austin Aries, Amazing Red, and others who helped lay the foundation for the company’s legacy.
But as Styles made clear, tonight belonged to Leon Slater. The young champion may have made his name at Slammiversary—but now, Styles challenged him to build his legacy as the face and future of TNA.
The “Phenomenal One” is officially back—and with a new home. AJ Styles made his highly anticipated return from injury at the Royal Rumble and has now been confirmed as the latest addition to the WWE Raw roster.
WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce made the announcement during a backstage segment on Monday night, revealing that Styles’ move was finalized just before the transfer window closed over the weekend. Reports from PWInsider Elite earlier in the day had already hinted at the shift, and Pearce confirmed he was able to strike one last deal to bring Styles to the red brand.
Styles’ Injury and Road to Recovery
Styles’ last televised match before his return took place on WWE SmackDown in October, when he faced Carmelo Hayes. That bout followed his loss to Cody Rhodes in an intense “I Quit” match, but just as Styles was getting back into the swing of things, a foot injury put him back on the shelf. The veteran superstar later revealed he had suffered a Lisfranc injury, which affects the ligaments and bones in the foot. He described the setback as “challenging” on social media, but WWE remained confident he would recover in time for the Royal Rumble.
Royal Rumble Performance and Elimination
Entering the 30-man Royal Rumble match at the #21 spot, Styles looked sharp in his first in-ring appearance in months. However, his return was cut short thanks to Logan Paul, who eliminated him by knocking him off the ring apron. While it wasn’t the comeback Styles likely envisioned, his move to Raw opens up fresh opportunities—and potential rivalries—on Monday nights.
With Styles now a full-time member of WWE Raw, fans will be eager to see what’s next for the former WWE Champion. Will he set his sights on Gunther and the World Heavyweight Championship? Or could he have unfinished business with Logan Paul after his Rumble elimination? Either way, expect the “Phenomenal One” to make an impact sooner rather than later.
The 2025 WWE Royal Rumble delivered plenty of unexpected moments, as 60 Superstars battled for their chance to main event WrestleMania. From shocking returns to unexpected debuts, this year’s Rumble continued the tradition of jaw-dropping surprises.
The biggest shock of the night came when Jey Uso outlasted 29 other men to win his first-ever Royal Rumble, eliminating John Cena to secure his WrestleMania moment. The win solidifies Jey as a true main-event player, and the WWE Universe is already buzzing about who he will challenge on the grandest stage of them all.
But the surprises started much earlier. Akira Tozawa was scheduled to compete but never made it to the ring, thanks to a blindsiding attack from Carmelo Hayes. With a sudden vacancy in the match, Triple H made a split-second decision and sent out popular streaming star iShowSpeed, who happened to be nearby. The internet sensation may not have lasted long, but his appearance added a wild, unpredictable element to the match.
TNA Represented in the Men’s Rumble
In a major crossover moment, TNA World Champion Joe Hendry made his surprise Royal Rumble debut to a thunderous ovation. However, his decision to go after Roman Reigns proved costly, as The Tribal Chief quickly disposed of him. Still, Hendry’s brief but memorable appearance marked a huge moment for WWE and TNA’s ongoing working relationship.
The surprises didn’t stop there, as AJ Styles made his long-awaited return after months sidelined with a foot injury. Entering at number 21, The Phenomenal One put on a strong showing, even eliminating LA Knight before Logan Paul ultimately sent him packing.
Women’s Rumble Sees Major Debuts and Returns
The Women’s Royal Rumble also delivered its fair share of shocking moments, none bigger than Jordynne Grace officially entering as a WWE Superstar. The former TNA Knockouts Champion’s participation confirmed what had been rumored for weeks—she’s now part of the WWE roster.
Another major return saw Alexa Bliss step back into the ring after two years away. Amid speculation about her WWE future, Bliss silenced the doubters by making a strong comeback.
Fans were also treated to appearances by two WWE Hall of Famers. Trish Stratus entered at No. 25, while Nikki Bella had the advantage of the coveted No. 30 spot. However, both legends fell victim to Nia Jax, who had a record-breaking performance, eliminating nine competitors before being taken out herself.
What’s Next on the Road to WrestleMania?
With Jey Uso now set for a championship match at WrestleMania and several surprise entrants making waves, the road to WrestleMania 41 is already heating up. Will Jordynne Grace make an immediate impact in WWE? What’s next for AJ Styles after his return? And how will John Cena respond to coming up short?
The Royal Rumble is shaping up to be even more unpredictable as reports suggest that former WWE Champion AJ Styles could potentially make his long-awaited return during the men’s Rumble match. According to PWInsider, WWE is “hoping” Styles will be cleared in time for the event, which takes place this weekend in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The Injury That Sidetracked Styles
Styles has been out of action since October, following a knee injury suffered during a comeback match against Carmelo Hayes on SmackDown. The injury occurred during a fireman’s carry move when Styles’ knee buckled after his foot didn’t properly plant, forcing an early stoppage to the match. While some initial reports speculated the injury might be storyline-related, Styles later confirmed it was legitimate, revealing he suffered a Lisfranc injury, which affects the ligaments and bones in the foot.
In January, Styles gave fans an update on his recovery, describing it as “challenging.” Despite the long road to rehabilitation, WWE appears optimistic that “The Phenomenal One” could make it back just in time for one of the biggest nights on the wrestling calendar.
A Rocky Year for Styles
This injury was the latest setback in what has been a tumultuous year for Styles. Before his match with Hayes, he returned from a three-month hiatus following a loss to Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes in an “I Quit” Match. That match ended when the referee called the bout after Styles was rendered unable to continue, marking a tough chapter in his career.
The Royal Rumble and the Road Ahead
If cleared, Styles’ entry into the Rumble would electrify an already stacked field and potentially set the stage for a major storyline heading into WrestleMania 41. Known for his incredible in-ring skills and versatility, Styles could reestablish himself as a top contender and potentially set his sights on unfinished business with Cody Rhodes or even the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
Fans have been eagerly awaiting Styles’ return, and his presence would inject a dose of “phenomenal” excitement into the Rumble. As WWE has shown before, the Royal Rumble is no stranger to shocking returns, and Styles emerging from the curtain would be a moment fans would talk about for weeks.
Final Word
As of now, nothing is officially confirmed, but the possibility of AJ Styles making his comeback this weekend is enough to have fans buzzing. Will “The Phenomenal One” make his return and shake things up on the Road to WrestleMania?
Rhino and Bob Ryder were inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame prior to Saturday night’s Bound for Glory pay-per-view event. There were other names that were being discussed, including Styles and Monty Brown.
Taking to Twitter on Monday, the Phenomenal One revealed that it was his decision to not accept the offer. He wrote,
“I’m still an active wrestler…I hope. I made the decision not to go into the TNA HOF, not WWE. I appreciate TNA, but I don’t want to go into any HOF as long as I’m still active. My choice”
Styles is currently sidelined due to a mid-foot ligament sprain.
I’m still an active wrestler…I hope. I made the decision not to go into the TNA HOF, not WWE. I appreciate TNA, but I don’t want to go into any HOF as long as I’m still active. My choice https://t.co/lvXCMG4pki
AJ Styles was reportedly being considered for TNA’s Hall of Fame inductions at Bound For Glory on Saturday. The pay-per-view saw the inductions of late TNA co-founder Bob Ryder and Tag Team Champion Rhino, the latter who still wrestles with the company and appeared in the Call Your Shot Gauntlet match during the Countdown to Bound For Glory.
“Fightful Select” has since reported that both AJ Styles and Monty Brown — known in WWE as Marcus Cor Von — were considered, with the former even prompting inquiry from TNA about an induction. “Fightful” has reported that the possibility was broached with WWE, who passed on the opportunity, though the reasoning is yet unclear. The reported belief within TNA is that it was due to Styles’ recent injury or active storyline.
There was also said to be a hope that he would be open to wrestling in TNA, but again it’s unclear if discussions were held. Styles made a non-WWE appearance recently when he returned to Japan to wrestle Naomichi Marufuji for NOAH in July, but sustained an ankle injury during “WWE SmackDown” on October 4. Reports have since emerged that there were plans to work a retirement and farewell tour storyline ahead of the injury and plans were still in place when they were waiting for the results of an MRI scan to assess the injury.
With WWE and TNA working together extensively throughout the year, sending stars either way, it’s still possible that a return to TNA — one-off or otherwise — could factor into such a storyline. The “Fightful” report doesn’t note anything further on the consideration of Brown, who wrestled with TNA throughout the 2000s before joining WWE. He has not wrestled a match since retiring in 2007.
On the October 4th episode of WWE SmackDown, AJ Styles returned to face off against Carmelo Hayes in a singles match. The match wound up being stopped after Styles suffered a “mid-foot ligament sprain.”
On Monday, the Phenomenal One took to Twitter to respond to a fan who claimed that he wasn’t really hurt. In his reply, Styles confirmed the reports that he’s currently dealing with a Lisfranc injury.
A Lisfranc injury is a foot injury that involves the Lisfranc joint complex, which is made up of the tarsometatarsal joint. It can range from mild to severe and can include a number of different types of injuries, such as sprains, subluxations, dislocations, and crush injuries.
Lisfranc injuries are uncommon and are often misdiagnosed or mismanaged. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are important for favorable outcomes. Treatment options include non-operative (cast immobilization) or surgery, depending on the severity of the injury.
A new update regarding AJ Styles is a cause for concern.
Following a lengthy absence from TV, Styles made his return on the October 4th episode of SmackDown. Opening the show, the former World Champion was quickly interrupted by Carmelo Hayes, who made fun of Styles and said that he was past his prime. After being goaded into a match by LA Knight, Hayes vs. Styles was the opening match of the show.
Sadly the match did not go the way as many hoped as due to an ankle injury the match was stopped and Hayes won via forfeit. Later seen evaluated by the medical team and leaving the arena on crutches, backstage interviewer Jackie Redmond stated on social media that Styles had “suffered a “mid foot ligament sprain” also known as a Lisfranc injury” and would undergo further evaluation. The Phenomenal One also acknowledged this update, saying that he would keep everyone updated.
What’s The Latest On AJ Styles?
Following the injury, two updates have been provided with differing reports as to how serious the injury was. As reported by Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select on October 5th, Styles is not injured and the spot was planned:
AJ Styles’ injury angle was planned an he’s fine.
However, the following day, Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer posted in his daily update that Styles is injured and will get an MRI to find out how serious the injury is:
The A.J. Styles injury on Friday was legit and not storyline. He’s getting an MRI done to see the severity of it.
On Saturday morning, WWE Superstars AJ Styles and IYO SKY participated in separate matches as part of their return to Japan.
During the Pro Wrestling NOAH Destination 2024 co-main event at Budokan Hall, AJ Styles faced off against NOAH Vice President Naomichi Marufuji. Styles emerged victorious after executing a Styles Clash.
Before joining WWE in 2016, Styles had been a regular competitor in Japan for NJPW, where he won the IWGP World Heavyweight Title twice.
Meanwhile, IYO SKY also participated in a co-main event at the Marigold Summer Destiny show at Sumo Hall. SKY emerged victorious against Utami Hayashishita after executing a tombstone piledriver and a moonsault.
Post-match, SKY expressed her gratitude to Hayashishita, WWE, and Marigold. She used her WWE entrance music for the match and wore a mask reminiscent of the one she wore at STARDOM before joining WWE.
You can check out some highlights from the matches below:
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