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TNA Wrestling has dominated the wrestling world for over 23 years, and it has been one of the major wrestling promotions from the very first day of its existence. Originally founded in 2002, it still exists today and is doing an amazing job. Presently, it is working on a multi year partnership deal with WWE, and they are working together with the NXT.
Jeff Jarrett had been one of the founding members of the promotion, and he was also a top star of it when he was active. TNA Wrestling was competing directly with WWE during its early days, and the biggest names in the world of professional wrestling, like Kurt Angle and Hulk Hogan, worked in the promotion.
Jeff Jarrett reveals the role of AJ Styles during the early days of TNA Wrestling
One of the biggest stars of TNA Wrestling back in its early days was AJ Styles, who had also been the first ever Grand Slam champion of the promotion. Jeff Jarrett recently remembered the early days of the promotion and also revealed that AJ Styles was the wrestler who was the centre point during TNA's early days. Speaking on his "My World" Podcast, he explained the following;
TNA Wrestling was founded back in 2002 and Jeff Jarrett was one of the founding members
"A kid from Georgia, North Georgia, a landscaper, had a wife in school — thank god she was, or AJ might have gone up to Cincinnati [WWE]. But he wanted to make his roots and stay there with Wendy and start their family and, you know, bought in, and then me and him had the working relationship in the ring, and you know, he becomes the Grand Slam winner and just, you know — just the continual.
AJ Styles is the first Grand Slam Champion of TNA Wrestling
"He's the guy that literally everything was built around from the day we really started the company. You can go back and look at [his history] X-Division champion, and he's a tag, and he was obviously a heavyweight champion, so AJ is the OG gamechanger. Yeah, it was no doubt — a no-brainer to put him at number one." Said Jeff Jarrett.
TNA Wrestling always had to face a lot of criticism for not being able to create many stars and only relying on already established names. But AJ Styles was one of the few examples that the promotion actually built, and today, he is considered one of the biggest names in the history of professional wrestling. It is reported that he will retire by the end of 2026.
