Add as a preferred source on Google AJ Styles may have retired from in-ring competition, but his name remains closely tied to TNA. That became clear again after recent comments from Jeff Hardy.
While appearing on Rewind Recap Relive, Hardy looked back on his TNA debut against Styles in 2004 and admitted he was extremely intimidated going into the match.
“Oh yeah, I was terrified and so intimidated. I hadn’t wrestled for like a year going into that match and Jeff Jarrett, I’ll never forget looking through that curtain and looking at the ring, it was that six-sided ring. He said, ‘What do you think?’ I said, ‘Ah, it feels like the future of pro wrestling.’”
The conversation, however, eventually shifted to Styles’ retirement. Jeff said he was surprised by the decision.
“(Jeff) But yeah, AJ, it was very shocking, man. I was surprised that he retired so soon. (Host Jonah says his retirement was abrupt) Yeah, for sure. Abrupt. Very abrupt.”
“(Matt) I was as well, just because AJ was still on top of his game. I think he still had more time left to be on top of his game if he chose to.”
Styles returned to TNA at Slammiversary 2025, appearing after Leon Slater won the X-Division Championship and pointing to him as the future of the division. Months later, TNA announced another appearance for Styles for the Thursday Night iMPACT! premiere on AMC in January 2026.
Before his retirement, however, Styles had already indicated that one final TNA match was unlikely. Speaking on the No-Contest Wrestling Podcast, he explained that WWE’s partnership with TNA mainly involved NXT talent, not names from the main roster.
Still, Jeff Hardy believes there may be unfinished business between Styles and the company where he built a key part of his career.
“I kind of feel like too with TNA. He retired naturally in WWE, but I feel like there might be something left for him to do that he would like to do for TNA because he is the heart and soul and the reason TNA is here.”