Multiple sources have reported that TNA superstar A.J. Styles is preparing to leave TNA for the first time since its inception in 2002, as his contract is set to expire and the company can't meet his financial demands. Could the WWE be the next landing spot for the wrestler?
According to PWInsider, Styles may be leaving TNA after over a decade with the company next week when his current deal expires. According to the report, Styles' current contract extension expires on Dec. 16, and the wrestler has already started taking independent bookings for when he becomes a free agent on Dec. 17.
PWInsider has reported over the last few months that Styles and TNA remain far apart on the money issue and the two sides haven't been able to negotiate details for a new contract. Styles and TNA sparked a conversation about an extension when his last long-term deal was set to expire, but the two sides couldn't iron out a new deal which led to Styles signing a two-month extension that runs through Dec. 16 and the hope was that they'd work out a long-term deal when the two-month extension was set to expire, but nothing has come of it.
According to PWInsider, the two couldn't reach an agreement because the company can't afford to pay Styles what he is currently making on his expiring deal, and Styles, feeling as though he was a huge part of the reason for TNA's success, didn't want to take a lesser deal from the company, which has been reportedly floundering financially.
Since neither side was willing to cave--and in the companies case couldn't cave--the conversations fell flat and it looks as though Styles will hit free agency next week.
The report cites that a lot of other wrestlers in the company that have been there since the beginning and are TNA originals, fear that the company will play hard-ball with them when their contract expires since the company is willing to let Styles walk rather than pay him what he feels he deserves.
Styles worked his way up through the company from an X-Division wrestler to a legitimate main eventer and has always been loyal to the company, however with the company cutting costs it would seem he is headed elsewhere.
According to PWInsider, Styles finished up with TNA at tapings for Impact last week in events that were set to air in early 2014.
The report indicates that Styles has started on his own endeavors, which include an autobiography that he will release in the first quarter of 2014 that goes along with a talking tour he'll do through the United Kingdom to promote it.
It remains to be seen if the WWE will make an offer for Styles, but it remains an option as the star is seemingly done with TNA, unless the negotiation tactics of TNA change drastically within the next week.
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