>>10145338The WWE causals knew who he was and his surprise debut resulted in an earth shattering pop which other TNA signees wouldn't have gotten.
AJ styles was the face of TNA for a decade and there is no way most wrestling fans didn't know about him.
And he clearly proved in NJPW and on the independent that he can wrestle any style and even in TNA he showed that he could cut promos.
So there was no reason to put him in NXT.