TNA asks AJ Styles about leaving ROH

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NWA TNA APPROACHES AJ STYLES ABOUT LEAVING RING OF HONOR; MORE TO FOLLOW²²
by Mike Johnson @ 10:21:00 AM on 3/22/2004


AJ Styles, who currently holds the ROH Pure Wrestling championship, was approached last week by NWA: TNA officials and asked to "distance himself from ROH," according to several sources. Styles, who has praised Ring of Honor publicly and has stood with the promotion in the wake of the Rob Feinstein situation, reportedly turned down the request and was not happy with being asked to turn down future ROH bookings. Styles is scheduled for dates with ROH through the summer.

It is believed the request given to Styles will be given to other contracted TNA performers shortly. There are a number of workers who appear for both companies including Chris Sabin, The Amazing Red, Christopher Daniels, CM Punk, Raven, Jerry Lynn, and AJ Styles.

TNA does have a number of their performers under contract, primarily to prevent WWE talent raids (wording in NWA: TNA contracts specifically prevents performers from working for World Wrestling Entertainment) as they build the company. There was talk several months ago internally about asking talent not to work ROH, but it never went past the discussion stage as talent was never approached. Around that same time, TNA squashed a planned Raven vs. CM Punk hair vs. hair match that would have led to Punk shaving Raven's head in ROH. TNA instead decided to use the angle for themselves, leading to Shane Douglas being the one who got to shave Raven's hair.

There are several factors that may contributing to the TNA's decision. There have been continuing discussions with TNA attempting to secure a cable television slot in the near future with FOX Sports. It may be that the promotion sees the deal as a probability and wants to maintain exclusivity with their talent as they move forward. The promotion has been very open in recent weeks about talent maintaining a clean image while in front of the cameras, which is also believed to be related to the FOX negotiations.

Other factors could be the recent situation with Rob Feinstein or that TNA, after learning ROH drew 1,800 fans in Elizabeth, New Jersey last week, is no longer seeing ROH as an independent wrestling promotion but more of a direct competitor and doesn't want "their names" on the shows. The latter possibility has led to concern among some TNA workers who are wondering if this could lead to TNA asking them to cancel additional independent dates down the line with other promotions, should those companies show signs of growth. Currently, TNA only runs three live PPVs a month, with a fourth PPV and a syndicated hour taped prior to the live broadcasts.

Beyond Styles, The two major names (from a ROH storyline standpoint) that also work NWA: TNA are CM Punk and Christopher Daniels. TNA hasn't booked Punk in several weeks, believed to be punishment for his part in the Teddy Hart fight. Daniels' first priority is New Japan Pro Wrestling (where he works as the masked Curry Man), thus he hasn't worked for either promotion in recent weeks. Daniels is penciled in to return to both TNA and ROH shortly. He's worked for ROH since the promotion's debut in February 2002 and also came out in support of the promotion after the Feinstein situation broke.

Others who work for both companies include those who have just returned from injury (Red) as well as those who haven't been involved in major ROH storylines of late (Raven, Lynn, Sabin).

Special thanks to Buck Woodward for contributing.