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AJ Styles alluded to a number of AEW names during his appearance at a major promotion's latest pay-per-view. The former WWE Champion namedropped some of his greatest in-ring rivals from back in the day, including Christopher Daniels, Samoa Joe, and Jerry Lynn.
This past Sunday in Elmont, New York, TNA hosted the 2025 iteration of its Slammiversary event. The show featured a seven-match card, including an X-Division Title match between Leon Slater and the defending champion Moose. The Youngest In Charge successfully dethroned the powerhouse and claimed the belt for himself after flattening his opponent with a 450 Swanton.
After the matchup, fans in the UBS Arena were treated to the TNA return of AJ Styles. The Phenomenal One congratulated Slater for making history and becoming the company's youngest X-Division Champion. He then discussed the origins of the X-Division and how it was built around the idea of doing away with weight classes. The veteran high-flyer also alluded to his iconic TNA rivals, including former AEW World Champion Samoa Joe, Christopher Daniels, Jerry Lynn, Frankie Kazarian, The Amazing Red, and Homicide, before dubbing Slater the future of his division.
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"You [Slater] showed everybody tonight that it's not about weight limits, it's about no limits. At least that was the foundation when I started. When I was in the X Division, it was AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, Samoa Joe, Frankie Kazarian, The Amazing Red, Homicide, Jerry Lynn. We were the foundation back then. But you, Leon, you are the future," said Styles. [1:23 - 2:02]
Styles' history with the aforementioned names and many others on the AEW roster has caused a lot of viewers to call for an All Elite run for the 48-year-old.
AEW's Christopher Daniels on his series with AJ Styles and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles shares an untouchable catalogue of matches along with Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels. The three men have engaged in battles on numerous occasions in TNA and elsewhere.
During his interview at GalaxyCon earlier this year, the AEW Head of Talent Relations shared his views on his work with Styles and Joe, as well as other noteworthy moments from his decorated career.
"So, I like to be remembered for a match like that with two guys like [Samoa] Joe and AJ [Styles] who are two of the greatest wrestlers to ever walk the planet. It’s a big deal to me. I mean, I feel like people also remember the three-way matchup with Bryan Danielson and Low-Ki at the very first Ring of Honor show, winning the world title from Adam Cole in 2017. Those are some of the moments that I feel like people remember and connect with.” [H/T:411Mania]
Daniels has been retired since being defeated by the current AEW World Champion Hangman Page in a brutal Texas Death Match at Collision: Maximum Carnage.
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