A recent social media post from Anthem Sports Group President Carlos Silva has sparked widespread speculation among wrestling fans about a potential appearance by WWE superstar AJ Styles at this Sunday’s TNA Slammiversary pay-per-view.
A “PHENOMENAL” Tease
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) about the high ticket demand for Slammiversary, Silva wrote, “This event will be TNA’s greatest achievement and trust me it’s going to be PHENOMENAL.” Fans immediately noted his use of the word “phenomenal,” the long-standing nickname for “The Phenomenal One,” AJ Styles, viewing it as a potential tease for an appearance by the TNA legend.
The speculation has been further fueled by the fact that Styles was reportedly backstage at TNA’s Final Resolution event this past December.
We’re moving the stage back to accommodate more fans. This event will be TNA’s greatest achievement and trust me it’s going to be PHENOMENAL. #Slammiversary #TNA @ThisIsTNA pic.twitter.com/9BUxjiIQjj
— Carlos Silva (@carlossilva) July 15, 2025
Styles’ TNA Legacy
AJ Styles is widely regarded as the most important homegrown star in TNA Wrestling’s history. As a “TNA Original,” he was with the company from its first broadcast in 2002 and was a cornerstone of the promotion for over a decade. During his time with the company, he was a multiple-time NWA and TNA World Heavyweight Champion and was the inaugural TNA X Division Champion. He left the promotion in 2013 and eventually signed with WWE in 2016.
The Open “Forbidden Door”
While an appearance by a contracted WWE superstar at a TNA event would have been impossible just a year ago, the current working relationship between the two companies makes it a plausible scenario. The partnership has already seen TNA’s Jordynne Grace (before she signed with WWE) appear on WWE programming while still holding the TNA Knockouts World Championship, and NXT’s Trick Williams won and defended the TNA World Championship. This unprecedented crossover has proven that the “forbidden door” is open for major stars to appear in rival promotions.
AJ Styles is currently a featured performer on WWE’s Monday Night Raw brand, where he is involved in a rivalry with Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio and The Judgment Day. While a return to a TNA ring remains speculation, the promoter’s choice of words has guaranteed that many fans will be watching Slammiversary closely for a potential “Phenomenal” surprise.
