Jeff Jarrett Recalls What Led To AJ Styles Joining TNA In 2002

Jeff Jarrett recently participated in a Q&A with Lucha Libre Online, and one of the questions he was asked had to do with who “discovered” AJ Styles prior to him joining TNA back in 2002.

When discussing the topic, Jarrett mentioned several names who had a hand in getting Styles on TNA’s radar and the importance of adding a talent like him to the roster (via Fightful):

“I think it depends on the era and the definition of ‘true discovery,’ because Bill Behrens was AJ’s first promoter — who to this day is his agent, business advisor, manager, whatever the title may give you. But Bill — to Wildside Wrestling (NWA Wildside) and you know, AJ was around WCW for just a couple of shows, and then North Georgia independents, and then my father heard about him and he saw him and then obviously I saw him. Jeremy Borash had seen him. There were different folks in the early days of TNA but you know, when AJ — those three months before TNA started, getting the ability to see AJ and his first night, being crowned the X-Division Champion, he truly was an alternative, but also a face of the brand from day one.”

Styles captured a variety of titles in TNA before working for several other promotions prior to signing with WWE in 2016.