10 On-Screen Wrestling Couples You Never Knew Existed
1. AJ Styles & Mickie James
2003 marked the best and worst of times for professional wrestling.
WWE's 2001 victory over WCW came as ECW also hit the skids, forcing wrestlers to either impress Vince McMahon or face an unknown oblivion that had once been extremely fertile.
In the wake of potential disaster though, a new independent uprising began in earnest. Names on the fringe found low level fame with brand new company Ring Of Honor, whilst others managed to grab spots underneath lacklustre Jeff Jarrett main events for burgeoning new brand NWA: TNA.
AJ Styles secured all of the above.
Labelled 'Phenomenal' for how well he flew, Styles became a must-see wrestler that promotions knew had the attention of an audience no longer interested in much WWE had to sell. This earned him a solid run in Ring Of Honor before a divide with TNA forced him to pick sides - and a run that included a stint as Tag Team Champion with fellow industry innovator Amazing Red and future WWE colleague Mickie James, then working as Alexis Laree.
The unit were short-lived, but lots like them were - the changing face of the industry forced the flexibility before things gradually settled later that decade.