Former WWE Champion JBL was set to be part of the TNA Slammiversary event, but the plan was ultimately cancelled. Since TNA’s return in August 2024, JBL seemed poised to play a key role in the July 20th pay-per-view. However, he recently disclosed on an episode that the storyline didn’t come to fruition.
JBL shared on social media that people hoped the storyline would be better than his previous involvement. He explained that he was originally scheduled to appear and that fans would have been amazed by the scale of his role, but unfortunately, it didn’t happen. He insists the reason for the cancellation was not due to his performance but rather decisions made by others no longer involved with TNA.
JBL praised Tommy Dreamer, who works in TNA’s creative team and as a producer, clarifying that Dreamer was not responsible for the change. He expressed enthusiasm about being part of an escalating storyline and training hard for it but was ultimately sidelined due to business decisions from former management. JBL emphasized his respect for current TNA talents like Mike Santana, Trick Williams, and the Hardys, acknowledging their success and contribution to the show.
He also mentioned that the dropped plans extended to AJ Styles at Slammiversary, who was replaced in favor of new X-Division champion Leon Slater. This information was transcribed from Fightful.
Fan Take: For WWE fans, JBL’s planned return to TNA could have been an exciting bridge between wrestling eras, highlighting the ongoing evolution of the sport. His absence, however, points to the often unpredictable nature of wrestling promotions and the complex decisions that shape storylines and talent roles behind the scenes.
