Wrestling News Recap – July 18, 2025: AJ Styles Return Teased for TNA Slammiversary

Summary

Overnight wrestling developments have set the stage for a massive weekend, with TNA Wrestling delivering their final Slammiversary build-up episode featuring a cryptic AJ Styles return tease, AEW dealing with Will Ospreay’s injury-related absence, and WWE preparing for a pivotal SmackDown contract signing between John Cena and Cody Rhodes. The wrestling landscape continues to evolve with significant storyline progressions across all major promotions.

🔥 BREAKING NEWS & TOP STORIES

AJ Styles Return Heavily Teased for TNA Slammiversary

The wrestling world is buzzing following TNA Impact’s go-home show for Slammiversary 2025, which concluded with a compelling vignette strongly suggesting AJ Styles’ return to the company. According to PWInsider’s Mike Johnson, the segment featured a mysterious TNA box opening to reveal Styles’ “Phenomenal” ring gear, with footage of the former TNA World Champion playing as the Slammiversary logo flashed on screen.

Key Details:

• Slammiversary 2025 takes place July 20 in Elmont, New York
• Multiple Tier 1 sources have confirmed Styles’ expected appearance
• This marks Styles’ first TNA involvement since his WWE departure rumors intensified
• Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp previously reported on potential WWE main roster stars appearing at the event

Source: PWInsider, Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Fightful Select

Will Ospreay Taking Extended Leave from AEW

Fightful Select reports that top AEW star Will Ospreay is taking time off television to recover from injuries sustained during his demanding schedule. According to Sean Ross Sapp’s exclusive reporting, Ospreay was “working banged up” following AEW All In: Texas, where he was stretchered out after an attack by The Death Riders.

Impact Analysis:

• Ospreay expected to miss over a month of action
• His high-flying “Aerial Assassin” style has taken a physical toll
• Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer has consistently rated Ospreay’s matches five stars or higher
• This absence affects AEW’s main event picture heading into Forbidden Door

Source: Fightful Select, Wrestling Observer Newsletter

📺 SHOW RESULTS & HIGHLIGHTS

TNA Impact Wrestling – July 17, 2025

Final Slammiversary Build-Up Episode

Major Match Results:

• Moose defeated Sami Callihan (retained X-Division Championship)
• Tessa Blanchard defeated Dani Luna (with Victoria Crawford interference)
• The Hometown Man defeated Judas Icarus
• Joe Hendry & Mike Santana defeated Trick Williams & Frankie Kazarian

Storyline Developments:

• Moose delivered a scathing promo calling Sami Callihan “a fat piece of garbage,” potentially setting up Callihan’s retirement
• NXT’s DarkState attacked The System twice during the broadcast
• The Hardys teased potential retirement if they don’t win tag titles at Slammiversary
• Masha Slamovich and Jacy Jayne had an intense face-off ahead of their title vs. title match

Source: PWTorch, eWrestlingNews, Wrestling News Source

AEW Dynamite – July 16, 2025

All In Fallout Episode

Key Results:

• Kyle Fletcher defeated Máscara Dorada
• Hechicero, Josh Alexander & The Young Bucks defeated Bandido, Brody King & JetSpeed
• Thekla won$100K Four-Way over Kris Statlander, Willow Nightingale & Queen Aminata
• Adam Page, Mark Briscoe & Powerhouse Hobbs defeated The Death Riders

Notable Moments:

• “Hangman” Adam Page delivered emotional championship celebration promo
• The Young Bucks adjusted to life without EVP status, forming alliance with Don Callis Family
• Darby Allin appeared in the rafters, channeling Sting’s iconic presence
• Athena challenged Toni Storm for the AEW Women’s World Championship

Source: Bleacher Report, Cageside Seats, eWrestlingNews

🏢 BUSINESS & INDUSTRY NEWS

WWE SmackDown Contract Signing Set for Tonight

WWE SmackDown from San Antonio, Texas, will feature the official contract signing between Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena and 2025 King of the Ring Cody Rhodes for their SummerSlam 2025 championship match. According to WWE.com, this segment will officially kick off the build to their WrestleMania 41 rematch.

SummerSlam 2025 Details:

• Date: August 2-3, 2025
• Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
• Host: Cardi B
• Main Event: Cena vs. Rhodes for Undisputed WWE Championship

Jazz Re-Signs with TNA Wrestling

Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp exclusively reported that former World Champion Jazz has re-signed with TNA Wrestling as an agent/producer. TNA President Carlos Silva confirmed the news during an interview with Sapp, noting Jazz’s valuable backstage contributions since joining the company in 2025.

Source: Fightful Select, TNA Wrestling

🌍 INTERNATIONAL & OTHER PROMOTIONS

NJPW G1 Climax 35 Lineups Revealed

Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that New Japan Pro-Wrestling has announced the complete lineups for G1 Climax 35, with the final qualifying wrestler confirmed. The tournament represents NJPW’s premier annual event and traditionally features the company’s top stars competing for a WrestleMania title shot.

Hirooki Goto Cast in Street Fighter Film

According to F4WOnline.com, NJPW veteran Hirooki Goto has been cast in an upcoming Street Fighter film adaptation, marking another crossover between professional wrestling and mainstream entertainment.

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter, F4WOnline

📱 SOCIAL MEDIA & TRENDING TOPICS

Goldberg’s WWE Frustration

Sean Ross Sapp reported that Goldberg expressed frustration with WWE’s handling of his retirement match, feeling the company prioritized counter-programming AEW All In Texas over giving him a proper send-off. Sapp noted that AEW had previously offered Goldberg a “legitimate retirement run.”

Toni Storm’s Movie Preferences

In a lighter moment, AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm revealed to Fightful that her favorite movie is “Master of Disguise” starring Dana Carvey, calling it “pure art” despite its poor critical reception.

🔮 LOOKING AHEAD

This Weekend’s Major Events:

• TNA Slammiversary 2025 – July 20, Elmont, NY
• WWE SmackDown – Tonight, San Antonio, TX
• AEW Collision – Taped in Chicago

Confirmed Slammiversary Matches:

• TNA World Championship: Trick Williams (c) vs. Joe Hendry vs. Mike Santana
• Title vs. Title: Masha Slamovich (TNA) vs. Jacy Jayne (NXT)
• Four-Way Ladder Match: TNA Tag Team Championships
• X-Division Championship: Moose (c) vs. Leon Slater
• AJ Styles expected appearance

📊 RATINGS & VIEWERSHIP

AEW Dynamite ratings dropped for the All In fallout episode, according to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, though the show received positive critical reception with grades ranging from B to B+.

🔗 RELATED COVERAGE

• Complete TNA Slammiversary 2025 Preview and Predictions
• AEW All In Texas Fallout: What’s Next for The Elite?
• WWE SummerSlam 2025: Early Card Predictions
• Will Ospreay Injury Timeline: When Will He Return?

Sources: Wrestling Observer Newsletter (Dave Meltzer), PWInsider (Mike Johnson), Fightful (Sean Ross Sapp), PWTorch (Wade Keller), Wrestling News Source, eWrestlingNews, Bleacher Report, Cageside Seats