WWE News: Huge Update On AJ Styles To WWE, TNA To Pursue Legal Action After Styles Backed Out Of TNA Deal?

We all know by now that the likes of AJ Styles, Doc Gallows, and Karl Anderson are all set to go to WWE very very soon. It has been teased by both WWE and AJ Styles himself that he could make his debut at tomorrow’s big Royal Rumble event. Styles could even be in his first WrestleMania this year as well. WWE has been hinting hard at Styles coming in online. It is thought that WWE is trying to tease the internet more so that people will know more about Styles when he comes in but also be more enticed to tune into WWE RAW and SmackDown to help the lower ratings.

All of this seemed great, and then TNA Wrestling had to come in like a bitter ex-girlfriend at the wedding and yell “NOOOO!!!” before her former boyfriend finally married his new girl. TNA sent out a big letter today to the internet stating that not only did AJ Styles and his Bullet Club brethren agree to terms on a contract with TNA, but they then backed out of those contracts with them. You can read the full story on that here.

Due to all of this controversy, the world wanted to know more. Why did TNA put this out? What was the point in it all? Would this affect AJ signing with WWE and what would TNA really accomplish by it all?

PWInsider was able to answer some of those questions.

TNA claims to have had a “handshake and written” deal with all members. First and foremost, we know this is unlikely at least partly as Karl Anderson could not sign anything fully until his deal with NJPW came up in February. So that alone puts any sort of contract with him out of the window because he could not sign anything due to his deal with New Japan.

AJ Styles could sign something as his contract expired around December with New Japan. So he could have signed with anyone whenever he wanted to, so TNA very well could be hurt more because AJ backed out and looped all the others into the same problem. It is said that when Bill Behrens, AJ’s lawyer and agent, was not happy to learn that he had discussed anything with TNA without him present and was against the deal with TNA at the time. Behrens then began communicating with TNA and they began working on long-form contracts going into the Christmas holiday but nothing was agreed to it seems.

TNA wanted to get AJ Styles back badly, so they were willing to offer him a substantially higher deal than what they offered a few years back. Styles and TNA apparently origonally started talking in November, so the thought was that TNA could manage to get him once his deal with NJPW was up. The idea was that AJ would be returning to TNA by the Pop TV debut (sort of), and it would be a good way that TNA was turning things around.

The trio met December 14, at Dixie’s home in Nashville in what was described as “a summit.” AJ, Doc, and Karl were there with Dixie and John Guburick and others within TNA. The group was said to have met all day and it was thought that talks could not have gone better. They apparently locked up start dates, came up with a new logo, and even worked on creative plans. Styles and Gallows were presented with a contract after meeting privately and came back with requested amendments to the deal, which TNA agreed to. Styles’ deal apparently was set for three years with an option for another.

Talks led to the idea that Anderson and Gallows would be coming in with him. Both men were looking to find something outside, which then of New Japan for various reasons. Gallows was not going to be under contract while Anderson would have been. TNA then bought plane tickets for all three to fly into Bethleham, PA for Impact Wrestling tapings in early January. The plan was that they would have filmed vignettes at a local hotel and then insert them into the Pop TV broadcast as a huge surprise to the live crowd.

The thought was that that they would make their in-ring return/debut when TNA came to The U.K. later this month.

TNA sources claim that all three signed agreements to work with TNA. The thing is, no lawyers were involved, but it was decided among all three that they would be coming in. As of this week, TNA did not hear from Anderson or Gallows but Styles made some kind of communication with them and he told them that he would be doing what was best for his family, which apparently meant he was taking the WWE offer.

Regarding TNA’s bitter statement put out Friday afternoon, they were said to have been frustrated over the communications between the two sides suddenly coming to a halt. They also were not happy about all the WWE rumors for the last few weeks. They felt that the wrestlers backed out of the deal and that they did “the right thing,” but were still wronged in the end. A sourced noted to PWI that officials did not want to look like “a patsy,” and look like they let “their Sting” leave for WWE without letting people know they tried to bring him back.

They basically wanted what they felt was the truth to hit the internet and be out there for the fans to judge on their own. The Bullet Club’s official twitter responded to the statement saying that “some things just should not be on the internet.” This basically meant that they were not happy with TNA for going off on them for simply taking the better deal.

In saying all of this, there has been some speculation that TNA might take legal action against all three or go after WWE. However, word as of Friday was that no decision had been made. It is said by many that TNA timed their statement on purpose, so that they could put AJ Styles’ potential WWE Royal Rumble debut in jeopardy.

Most feel that TNA has no way of pursuing any sort of legal action and even if they tried, it would be thrown out as no lawyer was present to represent any of the performers TNA was trying to bring in. It is said that they also signed “agreements” not contracts for TNA. They can bitterly talk about the members backing out of their respective TNA deal, but that does not mean they can force them to work for the company.

After all of this, what makes TNA believe that these future WWE Superstars would ever want to work for them after they blasted them publicly like this? There is a reason AJ Styles left TNA a while back, and things like this did not help matters at all. TNA may have just ruined him ever returning to the company. If nothing else, all three could always work the independents for a while or go back to Japan. They don’t really need TNA.

It should go without saying that any legal action TNA takes place won’t be taken seriously in court and all it would accomplish is having AJ Styles get out of his “agreement” due to not wanting to perform as an independent contractor, which he can do. Ask Alberto Del Rio and CM Punk how that independent contractor thing works. Expect AJ to still make his WWE debut soon.

[Image via TNA Wrestling]