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Styles leads TNA into Poughkeepsie

Posted: Dec 25th 2009 By: CMBurnham

Total Nonstop Action wrestling is going through a period of great change. A. J. Styles knows since he's been there since the beginning.

Styles, whose real name is Allen Jones, started with TNA when it launched as a weekly pay-per-view on June 19, 2002.

These days, Styles is TNA's world champion, and the company tours around the United States and overseas. Their latest tour makes a stop in Poughkeepsie on Jan. 9, for an event at 7:30 p.m. at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center.

Earlier that week, TNA is making its boldest step yet, airing its "Impact" program live on Spike TV on Jan. 4, opposite the juggernaut World Wrestling Entertainment's franchise program, USA's "Monday Night Raw". WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan and former World Championship Wrestling executive Eric Bischoff are expected to assume leadership roles in TNA soon.

It's the first time a wrestling company has gone head-to-head with WWE since "Raw" and WCW's "Monday Nitro" collided from 1995 until March 26, 2001, when WCW was bought out by the WWE.

"I'm a little surprised, but I'm ready for it, man," Styles said by phone from Orlando, Fla., where TNA tapes its weekly programs. "Everybody would like to see that Monday-night war again. Going live is awesome. It's what we're looking for."

For now, TNA is going to Monday night for this one week.

"It's not like we're trying to go head-to-head with WWE," Styles said. "But everybody wants to get in there and get live. Nobody can get on the Internet and find out what happened."

TNA is usually prerecorded.

Styles isn't sure what to expect from this new era.

"I have talked to Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff as much as you have," Styles said jokingly. "I'll probably know as soon as you know."

TNA last came to Poughkeepsie on May 17, 2008 and drew about 700-800 fans.

"It's not that we struggle to get people in there. That's not the right word," Styles said. "It's bad times, not just for America. That has a lot to do with it. We need more publicity, more posters. We're growing. We're getting better at everything."

Styles said the grind of being on the road is difficult, but it's worth it for the company.

"It's hard to get excited about a couple of days off during Christmas because you're about to get your tail kicked in January and February," Styles said. "I probably have 20 days on the road a month, which is barely enough time to get packed and on the road again. I miss my family, but it's all a positive for TNA."

Some of the company's more critically praised matches have featured Styles and two of his good friends, Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels. Styles thinks those physically demanding, high-flying contests are a great first exposure to their product for new fans.

"I think it's the best exposure you can get, not just for TNA, but for wrestling," Styles said. "We have everything that you'd want. Entertainment, mat specialists, high flyers, old-school guys. There's nothing that TNA does not have."

Styles said he wasn't much of a wrestling fan growing up and was more interested in football and baseball. What drew him in to wrestling?

"It was the money I'd hopefully be making," Styles said. "Not knowing you don't make money when you're breaking into the business. But I fell in love with it."

Through all of the changes TNA has gone through as a company, Styles has remained a loyal employee.

"I would just like to grow with this company," Styles said. "I'd like to retire from TNA and only work for one company in my career.

"And I'd like to pay off my mortgage."

Tags: TNA, A. J. Styles, WWE, WCW