• “They said some awful things” – Jeff Jarrett On How TNA Forced Out AJ Styles
During an episode of his podcast, WWE Hall Of Famer Jeff Jarrett talked about why AJ Styles left TNA Wrestling.
Below is what Double J said:
“I resigned on December 21, 2013. In early December is when the Carter’s put the nail in the coffin for me and Toby (Keith) to acquire majority interest. We knew it was game, set, match. It was not happening. I knew I had to go.
I knew Dixie’s position on all of it because of the, for lack of a better word, the financial de-spiral the company was in.
AJ’s money was getting cut. They wanted to cut AJ’s money, but not dates. He said, ‘If you cut my money, I’m cutting my dates.’ It was not just AJ’s contract. It was everybody’s. He was a complete, utter mess.
AJ was so willing to commit to the product that he was willing to re-sign. I found this out later. They said some awful things and had devalued AJ. They basically forced AJ against his will to leave.
That’s how committed AJ Styles was to the brand. He was TNA through and through. He had to be essentially forced out.”
Jarrett then said Road Dogg had a big hand in bringing Styles to WWE in 2016:
“Road Dogg was very instrumental in bringing AJ into WWE because of his position at the time with the company. AJ was such a tried and true, and committed to his core. He was going to go back to IMPACT with Doc and Karl before he signed with WWE. He was that committed to the brand.”
WATCH: Former WWE Diva Emma’s (Tenille Dashwood in Impact Wrestling) Buns Grabbed:
• ON THIS DAY IN WWF HISTORY (June 8, 2000) – WWF SmackDown!
On this day in 2000, the World Wrestling Federation aired an episode of their weekly TV show ‘WWF SmackDown!’.
It was pre-taped at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York and featured pre-taped matches & storyline segments on the road to the ‘WWF King of the Ring 2000’ PPV.
Here’s the match-card:
1. King Of The Ring – Qualifying Match: Chris Jericho vs. Test
2. Too Cool vs. The Godfather & Dean Malenko
3. Chris Benoit vs. Jeff Hardy
4. The Dudley Boyz vs. Kurt Angle, Edge & Christian
5. Women’s Battle Royal
6. Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley vs. Lita
7. King Of The Ring – Qualifying Match: Eddie Guerrero vs. Matt Hardy
8. Rikishi vs. Val Venis
9. The Undertaker, The Rock & Kane vs. Triple H, Road Dogg & X-Pac
