It's pro wrestling, so rumors of something being a work will never go away. But if AJ Styles and TNA haven't really parted ways, they're going a long way with the gimmick.
Styles is set to make his return to one of the promotions that launched him this Saturday, January 4, 2014 when he faces Roderick Strong at a Ring of Honor (ROH) television taping in Nashville, TN. The company released this brief promo and video hyping his return. Promos have never been his strong suit, but it the whole presentation focuses on The Phenomenal One's strength - he can go like few others in and around a wrestling ring.
He is also already announced as making at least two more ROH appearances: their 12th Anniversary show on February 21st in Philadelphia (for those unfamiliar with the Sinclair Broadcasting owned promotion, this is the equivalent of a pay-per-view (PPV) for WWE or TNA) and the next set of TV tapings the next day.
There are also previously announced bookings with smaller feds out into April. Unlike the ROH shows that will be broadcast or released on video, none of those would probably preclude a return to Impact Wrestling. But it does indicate that he has other plans and alternative revenue streams up until at least the April 26th Remix Pro show in Marietta, Ohio.
Anybody heading to the Nashville show (also featuring Chris Hero vs. Kevin Steen, and more intrigue around Jay Briscoe and his chase of World champ Adam Cole and his mentor Matt Hardy) this weekend? Or just excited about AJ returning to his roots?