Update On What Happened With The AJ Styles/TNA Contract Negotiations And More

For weeks now we’ve all been anxiously awaiting the WWE debut of AJ Styles. It’s been rumored that Styles could be making his WWE debut in the near future, possibly at the Royal Rumble. But yesterday the Internet was blindsided when TNA released a statement claiming that AJ Styles had already signed a deal with them and that he didn’t honor their commitment. Of course AJ Styles’ lawyer countered with a statement of his own saying that a deal was never signed.

According to PWInsider’s TNA sources, TNA had daily discussions with Styles in November and December and that they also discussed the idea of bringing in Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson. An idea was pitched for Styles to return and for Gallows and Anderson to come in as a team after they were finished with NJPW. The trio met for an all day meeting at Dixie Carter’s house on 12/14 and the meeting was said to have went well.

Styles, Gallows and Anderson were then presented with contracts and the trio then met privately. The group came back with some requested amendments which TNA supposedly agreed to. TNA sources continue to claim that Styles, Anderson and Gallows all signed deals without any lawyers involved. It was believed that Styles had signed a deal to work with TNA for at least the next three years.

As the plot thickens, the story goes that AJ’s lawyer Bill Behrens got involved and opened a line of communication between himself and TNA because he wasn’t happy when he learned about the deal. A new deal was then drawn up by TNA’s attorneys but the business talks slowed down due to Christmas delaying everything. TNA reportedly purchased a plane ticket for AJ Styles to come to Bethlehem, PA to do some pre-tapes at a hotel that would air on Impact to announce his return. From there, TNA sources claim all communication between them, Styles, Anderson and Gallows came to an end.

The TNA sources then claim they were told by Bill Behrens that the talents wouldn’t be moving forward with the deals. TNA obviously didn’t react well to this because they had planned out huge storylines involving the trio for the first half of 2016. From there rumors started popping up about Styles possibly coming to WWE. Although communication ceased between TNA, Anderson and Gallows, a TNA source is claiming that Styles did contact the company and tell them that he was going to do what was best for his family.

Of course that’s TNA’s side of the story and they remain adamant that they had a done deal with Styles. It’s unknown if the company is going to pursue legal action but AJ’s lawyer Bill Behrens continues to emphasize that no deals were ever signed. He issued the following statement to PWInsider.

“No contract was ever finalized nor signed by the parties.

That I would need to be involved in the contract process was known by TNA prior to my involvement and understood by them.

TNA and its 1st lawyer did not present in a timely fashion a contract that accurately reflected previous discussions at all. That created great concern tied to past experiences. In that time and prior there was other interest and there were other firm offers on the table and other discussions.

TNA was aware of other interest and various conflicts. TNA was aware a final contract was required. It was creating that contract and controlled that timetable. Too much time passed early on. Other things came into play. No contract was ever finalized with TNA.

To suggest I make any decision for my clients is to misunderstand my role and diminish the role each talent has in making their own decisions, and insults the talent in the process.”

It certainly seems like this situation is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. Of course this whole situation has created speculation that TNA timed the release of their statement to put AJ’s rumored WWE debut at the Royal Rumble in jeopardy. It’s going to be interesting to see how things play out from here and if TNA will pursue legal action. It will also be interesting to see if their claims will change whatever plans WWE has for Styles.