AJ Styles Returns to TNA After 12 Years to Inspire Leon Slater at Slammiversary 2025

In a moment that gave fans chills across the arena, AJ Styles made a stunning return to TNA Wrestling at Slammiversary 2025. It had been 12 long years since Styles last stood in a TNA ring, but his comeback was not for a match. It was for a message, a legacy, and a rising star named Leon Slater.

Slater had just achieved a career-defining win by defeating Moose to capture the X-Division Championship. He finished the bout with a Swanton Bomb, followed by a breathtaking 450 Swanton Bomb that sealed the three-count. Moose showed rare sportsmanship, handing over the title belt with respect. Then the lights dimmed, and the unmistakable music of AJ Styles hit the arena.

Why did AJ Styles return now, and what did he say?

As the fans erupted in pure shock and joy, Styles walked into the ring to celebrate Slater’s victory. His message was clear and powerful. He encouraged Slater to continue the proud legacy of the X-Division, a division Styles helped define in its earliest years. His presence wasn’t just a cameo. It was a torch being passed from one era to another.

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Just before the event, AJ shared a heartfelt letter to himself on social media titled “Two Eras. One Legacy. AJ Returns.” In the message, he reflected on his journey and growth, writing, “You have no idea how far this ride’s about to take you. All the ups, the downs, the doubts—they’re gonna shape you into one of the best in the world.”

What does this mean for TNA’s future and Leon Slater?

This wasn’t just a nostalgic pop for fans. It marked a symbolic moment. Slater, now holding the X-Division gold, has been given a rare stamp of approval from one of the division’s all-time greats. If there were any doubts about Slater’s future, they ended the moment AJ Styles stepped into that ring. The future of TNA’s X-Division looks bright, and it begins with Slater.

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Styles ended his note with words that resonate beyond the ring: “Stay humble, stay hungry, and trust God’s timing—it’s perfect, even when it doesn’t feel like it.” In one unforgettable night, AJ reminded the world he’s still phenomenal.