Summary

AJ Styles said that WWE once considered bringing in Abyss, also known as Chris Parks, for the Royal Rumble.

According to Styles, the plan did not move forward. He said the idea would have put the former TNA colleague in the match, and he later described it as a moment that did not happen as expected.

The source notes that Abyss had not wrestled since 2019, had previously said he had no immediate plans to return to in-ring competition, and now works in WWE as a producer.

AJ Styles’s Royal Rumble notes on Abyss and booking continuity

For fans tracking AJ Styles and former TNA ties, this detail puts a spotlight on how WWE is still revisiting legacy names without always committing to immediate returns.

The practical consequence is that even when names are discussed internally, they may not show up on-screen unless the decision is fully aligned across WWE’s booking chain, which leaves some retirement-comeback scenarios unfinished in the short term.

Quotes

Quote from AJ Styles

“There was a moment in time where we thought we were going to have him in the Royal Rumble. It didn’t go through and I hate that for him. It would have been just like, ‘Ah okay. Stamp on Abyss, the character finally made it to the WWE.’ I would have wanted that. I guess somebody didn’t agree with it."

Sources

As reported by Fightful.