As the wrestling world celebrates the legendary career of AJ Styles following his official retirement, one of the men most responsible for his early national exposure is speaking out. WWE and TNA Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett recently discussed the profound impact “The Phenomenal One” had on the industry, specifically pointing to his role in revolutionizing the in-ring style.
The X-Division Legacy Lives On
During an interview with Undisputed, Jarrett expressed immense happiness for Styles as he transitions into retirement and prepares for his WWE Hall of Fame induction during WrestleMania 42 weekend. The two worked closely together during the formative years of TNA Wrestling, where Styles emerged as the promotion’s definitive franchise player.
“I could not be happier for the guy,” Jarrett stated. “Getting to work with him was super special. It always takes me back to the creation of the X Division… I was adamant that it wasn’t about weight limits; it was about no limits.”
Jarrett firmly believes that the fast-paced, high-risk style pioneered in the X-Division is now the standard across the globe, and Styles deserves the lion’s share of the credit. “Look at today’s style of wrestling–the 2026 modern style–that’s the X Division from ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07,” Jarrett noted, mentioning peers like Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels. “And AJ is the face of that. That’s why AJ is the face of modern wrestling. I’m super grateful to have worked with him.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueFNX7isPRQ
While Styles transitions into a behind-the-scenes role with WWE, Jarrett continues his own legacy in AEW and will be featured in the new documentary “The Jeff Jarrett Story: Heart of a Promoter,” premiering tonight on YouTube and CW Nashville.
