Jeff Jarrett, WWE Hall of Famer, recently spoke about how TNA Wrestling attempted to position AJ Styles as the successor of Ric Flair on his “My World” podcast.
Here are some standout points from the podcast:
The effort to position AJ Styles as the new Ric Flair in 2010: “Imagine a scene where you take AJ out of the picture, the homegrown Georgia boy, and in many ways by 2010, he truly embodied the spirit of the promotion. He started as a rookie and ascended to an accomplished performer, honing his interview and in-ring skills. Meanwhile, Ric didn’t need any supplement. Regardless of whether it’s a brief pre-tape or an actual 25-minute match, Ric is the focus, undoubtedly.
“From every perspective, whether it’s booking, creativity, or promotional, the plan was bound to backfire. AJ’s development was overshadowed, regardless of whether the fans loved or hated him. He was on the path to being a villain, then suddenly Ric was brought in and it resulted in a mess. Ric’s brief appearance didn’t create as much impact as expected. It was disappointing, even more so than Hogan’s debut.”
Reflections on the state of TNA in 2010: “When I look back at it, admittedly, TNA had too many wrestlers in 2010. It was not just my roster but also Hulk’s and Eric’s. Maintaining a two-hour show with a large number of performers was challenging. Our Xplosion show was aired internationally for one-hour with a considerably lesser budget. Too many talented wrestlers were involved, causing most of them to be overlooked. The truth is, Desmond [Nigel McGuinness] received a massive push in October, November, and December. But with Hogan’s arrival, that ended.”