The Context 

With our recent coverage of the inception of TNA, I figured it would be good to hear from the face of TNA, AJ Styles, on why he left the promotion in 2016. Styles talked about the company signing Hogan and Bischoff, then trying to get things going, but things not working out as planned, and TNA losing a ton of money. Styles says he used to be angry at Hogan for never mentioning or promoting TNA outside the promotion, but he later realized it was because Hulk was embarrassed to be part of the company. AJ said he finally left because he was offered a contract with a 65% pay cut, and he didn’t feel he could stay for that after everything he’d done there. 

Analysis 

The company’s money troubles after signing Hogan and Bischoff are well-documented, and AJ wasn’t burying either man or Dixie for signing them. It sounds like he understood why the company rolled the dice, but a 65% cut is insane and basically just asking the person to leave the promotion. Also, the fine gentlemen at Between the Sheets did a Patreon on Hogan’s entry into TNA and discussed in detail just how little Hogan plugged the company. 

The Video