Avery Styles may be facing an early interruption to the momentum he has built since arriving in TNA.
Styles was reportedly among several performers left banged up following TNA’s recent television tapings in Dothan, Alabama. He was seen wearing a walking boot, creating uncertainty around his immediate in-ring status. No additional details have been made public regarding the nature or severity of a possible injury, and there has been no confirmed timetable for his return to action.
That lack of clarity is important. A walking boot can be used for a range of issues, and it does not by itself establish how long Styles could be sidelined, if he is sidelined at all. For now, the central development is simply that there is a concern surrounding the young wrestler after the Dothan events. Until TNA or Styles provides a further update, any discussion of a diagnosis or potential absence would be speculation.
A Fast Start in TNA
The reported setback comes at a notable point in Styles’ brief TNA run. The son of WWE Hall of Famer and longtime TNA standout AJ Styles, Avery entered the promotion with limited match experience but quickly found himself involved in prominent situations.
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He signed with TNA at Lockdown in August, beginning a new chapter under considerable attention because of his family name and his father’s history in the company. AJ Styles became one of the defining talents of TNA’s formative years, and Avery’s arrival naturally brought major curiosity about how quickly he could develop on a larger stage.
Rather than keeping him entirely out of view, TNA has already placed Avery Styles in matches and aligned him with an established name in Frankie Kazarian. That association has been particularly significant. Kazarian is a veteran with a long history in TNA and elsewhere, and the pairing has given Styles a meaningful on-screen direction while allowing him to work beside a more experienced performer.
Before signing with TNA, Avery Styles had worked only six matches. Those appearances included bouts for GCW, making his move to a national television promotion a rapid escalation in opportunity. His early schedule reflects the company’s willingness to introduce him in increasingly visible settings while he continues to gain experience.
First Televised Singles Match Is Still to Come
Styles’ latest known match took place on October 13, when he defeated Joe Alonzo in a singles contest that has not yet aired on TNA iMPACT. When that match reaches television, it will represent his first televised singles outing for the promotion.
The result gives Styles an important milestone even amid the uncertainty surrounding his condition. A first televised one-on-one victory is a natural marker in the development of a newcomer, especially one who entered TNA with such a short resume. It also suggests that the company had plans to continue presenting him as more than simply a supporting player in tag-team segments or multi-person matches.
His first match after the signing announcement was a dark match in August against Brian Myers, which Styles lost. That was an understandable first step for a talent still establishing himself in the company environment. The subsequent victory over Alonzo indicates forward movement, though fans will need to wait for the match to air before seeing how it was presented and what direction may have followed.
If the walking-boot report leads to time away, the timing could be frustrating for Styles. His television singles introduction has not yet aired, meaning an absence could arrive just as viewers are being given a more complete look at him as an individual wrestler. Conversely, because the match is still waiting to air, TNA may have material available to maintain his television presence in the near term. That does not answer the question of when he may wrestle next, but it could help preserve some continuity while more information is awaited.
Bound For Glory Exposure
Styles also received a substantial opportunity at Bound For Glory, TNA’s biggest event of the year, when he entered the 20-man Call Your Shot gauntlet match at number two. He began the match opposite Trey Miguel, immediately placing the rookie in a demanding environment against a seasoned opponent and in front of the promotion’s largest annual audience.
During the gauntlet, Styles eliminated Mr. Elegance, a meaningful accomplishment for a wrestler so early into his career. His own elimination came after AJ Francis knocked him out of the air and to the floor while Styles attempted a springboard. The sequence gave Styles a memorable high-risk moment, even though his time in the match was ultimately cut short.
The Call Your Shot gauntlet can rapidly change a performer’s trajectory because it mixes established stars, emerging talent and the stakes of a future championship opportunity. Styles did not win the match, but participation alone was another sign that TNA was prepared to feature him at an important event shortly after his arrival.
The bout was ultimately won by Kazarian, adding another layer to the connection between the veteran and Styles. Following the victory, Kazarian revealed that he would use his Call Your Shot opportunity to pursue the TNA World Tag Team Championships with Styles as his partner.
Tag Title Direction Now Carries Questions
That announcement makes the reported injury concern more consequential than a routine update on an inexperienced prospect. Styles and Kazarian have a stated championship goal, and the timing of that pursuit could be affected if Styles is unable to compete.
TNA has not announced a title match date for Kazarian and Styles, nor has it indicated that the team’s plan has changed. There is therefore no confirmed reason to assume the challenge is off. Still, a possible injury creates an obvious question over whether the duo can move ahead on the expected schedule.
For Kazarian, the Call Your Shot victory gave him leverage and flexibility. His decision to frame the opportunity around the tag titles with Styles established a clear investment in the younger wrestler’s rise. It also gave Avery a potentially accelerated path toward championship contention despite his limited experience. A delay, if one is required, would test whether TNA keeps the pairing and its title objective intact once Styles is cleared.
There is also a broader creative consideration. Young talent often benefits from consistent match reps, especially after making the jump from a handful of independent appearances to a major promotion’s regular tapings and pay-per-view calendar. Time away at this stage could slow that process. On the other hand, if the issue is minor, a careful approach could be preferable to asking a developing wrestler to work through an injury before he is fully ready.
Waiting for a Clearer Update
For the moment, the appropriate conclusion is that Styles’ status is uncertain. The report that he was in a walking boot is the only specific indication of a potential physical problem, and neither a diagnosis nor a projected return date has been confirmed.
Fans should also avoid connecting the issue to any particular match or move. Styles has competed in several notable situations since joining TNA, including the Call Your Shot gauntlet and the October 13 singles match with Alonzo, but no official information has identified when any possible injury occurred.
What is clear is that Avery Styles had been gaining exposure at a remarkable pace. He signed in August, worked alongside Frankie Kazarian, appeared at Bound For Glory, recorded an upcoming televised singles victory, and became part of a declared plan to challenge for the TNA World Tag Team Championships. Those are substantial developments for someone who arrived with just six matches of prior experience.
The next update from TNA or Styles will determine whether this is a brief precaution or a more significant obstacle. Until then, the young prospect’s immediate future remains one of the key questions coming out of the Dothan tapings, particularly with his first televised singles match still awaiting broadcast and the Kazarian partnership pointing toward a potential title program.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.