WWE Rumors: TNA Claims AJ Styles And Bullet Club Members Signed With Company, Then Ignored Them

AJ Styles is reportedly going to debut with WWE any day now, and it could come as soon as this Sunday at the Royal Rumble. Styles has been with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) for over a year since parting ways with TNA. Now that he is about to finally begin a run with WWE, officials at TNA are claiming that Styles and other Bullet Club members Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows all signed deals with the company in December, and then backed out of them.

It’s been almost a month since rumors started flying that Styles, Anderson, Gallows, and Shinsuke Nakamura were heading to WWE. In the last week, just about everything has been confirmed and their arrivals with the company at some level (NXT) are imminent.

Now, even though the rumors of their deals with WWE have been around for a few weeks, TNA has finally decided to speak out. Wrestling News Source revealed a statement directly from TNA Wrestling that states all the stars but Nakamura signed with the company and then backed out.

“AJ Styles has always been synonymous with TNA and TNA synonymous with AJ Styles. AJ helped build the foundation of IMPACT WRESTLING, and his phenomenal body of work lives in our rich history – something we are very proud of.

“In the last few weeks, rumors have swirled about AJ Styles, his future and TNA Wrestling. Fans have asked for the status and wrestling media have made numerous inquiries.

“For the past several months, AJ and TNA were involved in serious discussions to bring him back home to TNA. Creative discussions escalated and two additional wrestlers, Drew Hankinson [Doc Gallows] and Chad Allegra [Karl Anderson], were enthusiastically added.

“These discussions culminated on December 14th in Nashville, Tenn., where all attended a meeting at Dixie Carter’s home. A handshake and written deal between AJ, Drew, Chad and TNA was agreed upon and signed by all. Start dates were determined, creative decided, merchandise designed and plane tickets purchased.

“Over the Christmas holiday, and after the lawyers finalized the long form agreement, all communication with TNA stopped.

“AJ’s lawyer contacted TNA and stated the wrestlers had changed their mind and would not be honoring their commitment to TNA.”

This statement came directly from TNA wrestling and details exactly what allegedly happened between the company and the three superstars.

Gallows is now a free agent as his contract with NJPW was up in January and he is now free to sign anywhere he wishes. The same goes for AJ Styles. Karl Anderson’s deal with NJPW is said to be up in February and he can then sign wherever he pleases.

All three have already been written off of NJPW television. The thing is, Styles has done work with Ring of Honor and other promotions as well since leaving TNA. It’s just interesting that the company comes out now and releases this statement as the stars appear set to debut with WWE.

Since TNA released the statement for the world to see, WrestleZone has revealed that AJ Styles and his management team have seen it. It appears as if they found it necessary to respond to the allegations, but didn’t have a lot to say.

“No contract was ever finalized nor signed by the parties.”

Pro Wrestling Sheet reports that sources close to all three wrestlers did say that there was a deal discussed between them and TNA, but it was pending an official contract agreed upon by everyone. Apparently, it wasn’t received in a timely enough manner and it led to Styles, Gallows, and Anderson all going elsewhere (WWE).

Styles was reportedly to debut again with TNA after their start on POP with Gallows and Anderson to debut later. It also seems as if merchandise was even already designed for them.

AJ Styles is about to debut with WWE any day now, and fans really believe if it isn’t at the Royal Rumble, then it will be on Monday or Tuesday. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson are set to debut soon as well, but TNA wanted the world to know that all three apparently turned their backs on their deals.

[Image via NJPW]