In an interview with Aaron Oster for the Baltimore Sun, free agent AJ Styles did not rule out working for Jeff Jarrett’s new Global Force Wrestling promotion.
“Sure, this is what I do. This is my job,” he responded when asked if he would in interested in working with Jarrett at GFW. “It’s nuts to think that we could have four major wrestling promotions in the United States. Jeff’s very smart, there’s no doubt about it. He knows what he’s doing, and always has a backup plan. He took TNA from nothing and turned it into something that’s still around 12 years later. That’s pretty darn good. That’s an accomplishment right there. I trust Jeff. I trust him to put on something good, and something that people will watch.”
Styles then went on to elaborate on his standing with TNA, ruling out an iminent return to the company but not closing the door on ever working for them again.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever go back, and it’s definitely not going to be any time soon,” Styles said. “And from what one of their higher-ups said, it will be, ‘Only if there’s space available for A.J. Styles.’ So I guess there might not be room for me, according to him.”
Styles also speculated on the company’s health.
“I know they’ve made a lot of cuts. That must mean they’re not doing so well. Sting gone, Hogan gone, myself gone, and I’m sure we’re going to see more cuts soon. From what I’ve heard and been told, it’s been horribly mismanaged as a company. I don’t know if they’re going out of business. But they’re definitely doing things that make people think they’re going out of business. And I hope they don’t. I hope TNA doesn’t go out of business because I have a lot of good friends that work there and deserve to be in the national spotlight. My hope is that they never go out of business.”
Styles also discussed his recent debut with New Japan as the Bullet Club’s new leader.
“I’m so excited to be part of that group. Just the things that they’re doing, they’re very unique. They’re doing things that are really different, especially for New Japan. Usually in Japan, it’s just based on the wrestling. But in New Japan you get a little more out of the storylines and whatnot, to build up the wrestling matches, and that’s a good thing. Not so much that they’re on the mic every second, and fans are like, ‘Oh my god, let’s see some wrestling,’ but there’s just enough to get the next match built up. It’s definitely something special to be part of the Bullet Club, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.”
The full Q&A with Styles promoting Saturday’s ROH show in Sinclair Broadcasting’s home market of Baltimore here at BaltimoreSun.com
