Ricky Sosa believes Avery Styles has arrived in an environment that can accelerate his growth, and he is pleased to have another young talent joining the TNA locker room.
Styles signed with TNA at Lockdown in August, immediately becoming a notable addition to the promotion’s developing roster. Attention around the signing has continued to build following confirmation that Styles’ first TNA match has been taped and is scheduled to air on TNA iMPACT! in the coming weeks.
For Sosa, the arrival is about more than a single debut match. He sees Styles entering a company filled with seasoned wrestlers, including people who have existing history with Styles’ father, while also joining a group of younger performers looking to establish themselves at the same time.
Sosa said he has already had opportunities to speak with Styles both after the signing and during the most recent tapings. Those conversations left him encouraged about what the newest TNA signing can gain from the setting around him.
For more background on this topic, read AJ Styles Says TNA’s Television Structure Can Give Avery Styles Essential Experience.
“I’ve had the chance to talk with him when he signed, and on the last tapings as well. It’s great for him. I’m happy for him…The fact of being in TNA with all these veterans and all these guys that worked with his dad, he’ll be able to learn and grow. I’m pretty sure he’s going to be big, very big, very soon. I’m glad to share the locker room with him. Also, it feels great to have a lot of young talents where we can all grow together. So it’s great. I feel like fans will love him. Of course, there’s always a feeling that you have to prove that you’re worthy of it. I’m pretty sure he is going to do well.”
A New Opportunity in TNA
Avery Styles’ signing at Lockdown put a spotlight on a competitor who now has an opportunity to make his first impression in a nationally visible TNA setting. The transition from being a new arrival to being a regular presence on television is an important step for any wrestler, particularly when anticipation starts before that wrestler’s first match has even aired.
Sosa’s comments acknowledge the mixture of excitement and expectation that comes with that position. He did not present success as automatic. Instead, he noted the familiar pressure to demonstrate that an opportunity has been earned. That is a reality for every prospect entering a locker room where established veterans have spent years building credibility in front of audiences around the world.
At the same time, Sosa expressed confidence that Styles is prepared to meet that challenge. His prediction that Styles could become “big, very big” soon is a strong endorsement, but it is also rooted in the belief that TNA gives younger wrestlers valuable access to experience. Learning in that atmosphere can happen through formal coaching, in-ring preparation, travel, production days, match observation, and the routine conversations that take place before and after television tapings.
The detail that several TNA veterans have worked with Styles’ father adds another dimension to the situation. Those existing connections may offer perspective, but the responsibility to establish an individual identity remains with Avery Styles himself. Sosa’s remarks made clear that he expects Styles to be evaluated on what he can do in the present, not simply on the attention that may surround his family connection.
Sosa Values a Growing Young Core
The most revealing part of Sosa’s assessment may be his emphasis on collective development. Rather than framing another young signing as competition for limited opportunities, Sosa described it as a benefit to have multiple emerging talents moving forward together.
That outlook speaks to the importance of a locker room’s next generation. Veterans provide experience and direction, but promotions also need performers who can build chemistry with one another over time. Young wrestlers can push each other to improve, create fresh rivalries, and give fans new personalities to follow as their careers progress.
“We can all grow together” is therefore more than a welcoming statement. It reflects the kind of internal competition that can be productive when it is paired with mutual respect. Each performer still wants a stronger match, a bigger role, and a better reaction from the crowd. But having peers who understand the same stage of the journey can create an atmosphere in which improvement becomes a shared priority.
Sosa also predicted that fans will respond positively to Styles. The debut itself will be the first major test of that belief. A first appearance on TNA iMPACT! is not the end of the introduction; it is the beginning of the process of showing viewers who a wrestler is, what separates him from the rest of the roster, and why audiences should continue following his path.
For Styles, that process will unfold under increased interest because his signing was announced at a major event and because discussion has already emerged about his first match. Still, attention alone does not determine whether a newcomer connects. The presentation, the performance, the reaction in the building, and the weeks that follow all matter.
Debut Match Discussion Has Already Started
The conversation around Avery Styles’ first TNA outing has also touched on possible opponents. Frankie Kazarian recently addressed why he did not want Styles to face AJ Francis in his first match for TNA Wrestling. That point has added another layer to the debate surrounding how TNA should introduce Styles on television.
There are always differing views on the right first opponent for a new signing. A debut can be designed to provide a difficult immediate test, introduce a wrestler in a matchup with a familiar veteran, or offer a situation that best highlights a newcomer’s strengths. No matter which approach is taken, the objective is usually the same: give the audience a clear reason to pay attention when the wrestler appears again.
In this case, the result of Styles’ taped debut has not been stated. The match is still set to air in the weeks ahead, and viewers will get the chance to see how TNA chooses to present him in that first official in-ring moment. Until then, the discussion remains focused on the potential surrounding the signing rather than a completed body of work in the company.
Sosa’s comments provide a useful perspective amid that anticipation. He is not trying to place unrealistic demands on Styles before the debut has aired. Instead, he has stressed the value of the locker room, the importance of continued growth, and the belief that Styles can rise to the expectations that accompany the opportunity.
Experience and Expectation Await
TNA’s roster environment gives Avery Styles an immediate chance to learn around experienced names while developing alongside other younger wrestlers such as Sosa. That combination can be significant. A newcomer does not need to have every answer on day one, but he does need to absorb feedback, adapt to the pace of television wrestling, and make every appearance count.
There is also a meaningful distinction between being welcomed into a locker room and being handed a position within it. Sosa’s words conveyed genuine support, yet he was equally direct about the need to prove worthiness. That balance is central to the opportunity ahead of Styles. Respect may be available, but it is strengthened through preparation, consistency, and performances that give both fans and colleagues confidence in what comes next.
For now, Sosa is happy to see Styles receive the chance. He views the signing as positive for Styles personally and positive for the larger group of younger talent working to grow within TNA. The first televised match will offer the next tangible chapter in that story, while the weeks and months after it will determine how quickly Styles can turn early curiosity into sustained momentum.
As Sosa sees it, the pieces are in place: veteran guidance, youthful ambition, and an opportunity to develop in a competitive setting. The remaining task belongs to Avery Styles when the bell rings on TNA iMPACT!.
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.