If I was TNA I would seriously be worried about AJ Styles starting to think of alternatives to TNA when his contract is coming towards an end again. It's one thing to be disappointed with certain things in the company, but look at what happened with guys like Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero in WCW back in the day? One can only continue to be a 'company guy' for so long, and then you have to look at other opportunities and what's best for your own personal business. Imagine if TNA lost AJ Styles?
It's nice to see Styles being candid, and it's nice to finally see him comment on some things others have had the same criticisms about but never really known what those involved thought. I thought it very funny what he said about Rob Van Dam, and he's completely right. It's also funny to hear him talk about being the face of the company and his hints at not feeling like that and not understanding the direction TNA has gone with him (especially after I just posted something about this in another thread).
I can't blame Styles or Joe for being unhappy and troubled with where TNA's going right now and it'll be interesting to see how this continues to play out and whether more talents start talking the same.
I agree with the thoughts expressed here, if i was TNA management I would be extremely concerned about potentially having an unhappy camper in AJ Styles and having him become disillusioned with their product, as have many of their fans, and having him possibly leave the company upon the expiration of his current contract (not sure when that is). Because Styles is one of two guys (Angle being the other) who would absolutely cripple TNA if they were to ever lose faith in their product and head over to WWE, especially if they were to become vocal in their reasons for doing so. Now I'm not saying this will ever happen, it's purely a hypothetical, but if it ever did, TNA wrestling would be in crisis.
People often reach a point whereby they realize their career is only so long and they have things they want to achieve, and that they simply won't achieve it where they are. It's not a question of loyalty or lack thereof, but rather, a question of reality. Take Roy Halliday and the Jays in MLB. He was with them a long time and really wanted to succeed there. He could have gone elsewhere sooner, but he stayed in Toronto, likely for considerably less money. But he eventually reached the point where it was obvious he wasn't going to win there, and he is getting older and only has a few years left in terms of at his absolute prime, so he left and went to the Phillies (as Theo smiles). I don't see this as a lack of loyalty and feel no resentment, as a lifetime Jays fan, for him doing so. He wants to succeed, has a limited time to do so, and so made the move.
Back to Styles. He probably wants to be the face of TNA, and he should be. He should hold the TNA World Title and he should be a face, he's painful to watch as a heel, it looks forced and fake. Yet, he's holding the revolving door title (whatever name it has this week) which would be like giving John Cena the IC title at this stage of his WWE career. It's beyond unnecessary and pointless, it's arguably insulting. Being given a secondary title while newcomers with WWE/WCW/ECW lineage pass you by on an ongoing basis. Living in the shadow of guys like Flair (and previously Sting). Being told, indirectly, thanks for dedicating your entire career to us, and even though you are recognized as the best pro wrestler in the business today (debatable), we don't think you can get it done and we are going to hand the reigns to RVD, who, with all due respect, shouldn't lace Styles's boots at this stage of their respective careers.
Someone like Styles watches Jericho, Benoit, Guerrero, Mysterio, and others leave WCW for greener pastures in WWF/WWE, where their skills were being under-utilized in WCW, and go on to holding the major titles in the biggest company. Got to be tempting. Would have to make you wonder, what the hell am I doing holding the TV Title and living in Flair's shadow, when I could be headlining Wrestlemania where I would actually be making some real money and actually have an audience watch me.
Loyalty only goes so far before reality kicks in. And don't be naive, there's no loyalty in the world anymore. And as I said, if Styles and/or Angle start feeling this way and make a high profile jump to the grandest stage of them all, TNA wrestling is over. Even the ECW guys wouldn't be able to save them
