AJ Styles - Opinion and Discussion thread

DM_7

AJ Styles

What do boardsies think of the TNA ever present and TNA Triple Crown Winner?

In the Unpopular Opinion Thread we learned opinions are split. Here is a place to discuss his talents, achievements, matches, faults and so on.

Here is some of what we learned already.

Pete Campbell wrote: »

AJ Styles isn't hugely special and if say Evan Bourne, Tyson Kidd or Fergal Devitt had gotten his TNA push they'd have been equally successful. If Styles was in WWE he'd be lost in the mid card like Bourne.

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Ye he probably would be but that's not down to his in ring talent, rather it's a criticism of WWE's attitude to those who have built a reputation outside their promotion, who don't conform to the WWE ring style and because he is rather small. You know Bourne was a ROH and indie circuit regular, he never scaled the heights of Styles, a genuinely top class worker.

Pete Campbell wrote: »

If TNA got behind Bourne like they did AJ he'd have done just as well. He's just as athletic a worker. Neither are gonna set the world alight as a promo lets face it. In fact AJ's southern drawl is a bit lol offputting.

Wrt WWE not pushing guys due to size - explain Bryan, Punk and Rey to me. Difference between them and AJ/Evan is the former have charisma that the latter vanilla midgets can only dream of.

Andersonisgod wrote: »

If you think Styles is purely about athleticism then you don't fully understand what Styles is about. Sure he's great for the highlight reel, big dives, big stunts but he's also got excellent ring psychology, a great seller, the man can tell a story in the ring, can work different styles (no pun intended) and can get an opponent over. If it were just athleticism then Consequences Creed and Sonjay Dutt would have had a couple of TNA World Title runs each.

Exceptions to the rule I believe they are called. Are you really going to try to argue that there is not a big man policy in WWE? Oh and by the way all three went through hardships to get to their spot that the likes of Ryback never have to. Remember Rey being squashed by A-Train and Big Show? How about Punk losing to Striker and Hardcore Holly? Bryan losing to Sheamus in 12 seconds was it?

How many scintillating promos has Rey cut in WWE? Please reference 3. Ironically Bryan was considered a bit bland in ROH, only after the ROH vs CZW feud did he turn that opinion around. Styles isn't The Rock or CM Punk on the mic but he is fine, not great, not dreadful.

Pete Campbell wrote: »

Styles is a bland vanilla midget. His selling is no better than the lads referenced earlier. They simply never got the opportunities he did.

Of course theres a big man policy in Wwe but smaller guys with exceptional talent like the guys referenced can break through. My point is that AJ fades in comparison to the Bryans of this world and would bee lost in the pack in WWE. HEs a good little worker but hes interchangeable with plenty other guys like Bourne.

The fact the lads paid their dues isnt really relevant. Ey was never a promo based guy. He has anintangible mystique thats hard to explain and is also one of the finest in ring workers of recent memory. He has so so much more than AJ Who as I Keep having to repat is no better than any of the bland croozers drowning in the mid card today. Its not Wwe's big man policy that would keep him down. Rey et al have shown that can be overcome. Its that he wouldnt stand out anymore than a host of guys already on the books.

764dak wrote: »

Judging by this match between himself and The Hurricane on WWE Metal in 2002 I think AJ Styles would mainly wrestle in the cruiserweight division (when they had it) and maybe occasionally go for the US/IC title if he decided to take the contract he was offered.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR5tIFlhetw

thebostoncrab wrote: »

Having re read the thread, another in popular opinion I have has really hit me.

I cannot stand AJ Styles. Honestly, I find the guy to be a bore. When he ends up being in an exciting match I often find myself getting into it because of the other wrestlers in the matches, not AJ. When I first saw him years ago I thought he was great, but he never seems to bring anything new to the table for me personally. Heel or face I can't stand listening to his promos. I often wish Bourne went to TNA because I could watch him wrestle against anyone and love it, plus his cocky heel persona in ROH proved he actually is charismatic.


Also, I still am a believer that Ryder could be something special and if he turns heel this year, he could surprise so many people.

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Judging by the comments I've seen this might be an unpopular opinion.

AJ Styles is the finest wrestler in the western world since Chris Benoit and Shawn Michaels.

Lets keep this civilised people...................

Andersonisgod

Ok though the opening post may suggest otherwise, my room isn't filled with AJ Styles posters, I don't have any shrine of him worth mentioning and I can, grudgingly, accept that he isn't perfect. I'm also sure that there are more AJ Styles fans than me on here.

The guy is incredible. Ye he's had classics with great workers like Daniels, Angle, Joe, Punk ect. But on top of that he has carried so many average workers to very good matches that it really does beggar belief. Just like Shawn Michaels was the go to guy on the WWE in the mid 90's and the majority of the 21st century, Styles has been exactly that in TNA. Whether he was the top face, a comedy act in a poor faction, in a tag team with bloody Tomko, a mini Ric Flair or just plain great AJ Styles it's never mattered, he's always given it his all and no matter what he has been saddled with he is more often than not the high point of any TNA show.

In the ring he can do it all, he's not a spot monkey, hung up only on getting in the highlight reel moments but he is a genuinely great wrestler with a body of work that is more than comparable with any western wrestler of the last decade.

GTR63

The only bad thing I can say about AJ is that he wore a shíte cap the time I met him at a meet and greet in Coventry, some kind of beret and the room was boiling....felt like slapping it off his head and stomping it into the ground.

DM_7

Bell to Bell he is very good.

A decade ago was an exciting talent with potential and when I could I would watch him and enjoyed following his progress.

For me though he did not develop into a great and at this stage i'm not bothered about watching him.

The best wrestlers can do very little in the ring to grab your attention. The reason they can do this (for me) is they create a persona that they can then use during a match. This persona initially pulls me into the match at a basic level as if they are good at creating an interesting persona I will want to see them triumph or be beaten. Then they can add to a match by playing up to that persona for example a cocky look into the camera from CM Punk and he has me hooked into the match. The other thing is I feel like I know who CM Punk is even though I never met him so its adds a sense of realism. An over the top guy like Damian Sandow wouldn't have anything like AJs ability technically and as fake as he is I can believe in his over the top persona and enjoy his matches thanks to it.

Take a great match I watched over the weekend like Suzuki v Tanahashi, I can't speak Japanese and before watching the match I didn't know anything about Suzuki but after watching I knew he was a bad ass just by the way he acted. The way the lads perfromed the figure 4 move had me enthralled and when I break it down all they did was scream shout and use some mad expressions. It was how that moment fitted both guys persona's that made it mean something and added a lot to the match.

I don't ever get ingaged by the AJ Styles persona in that way. Even though they would be on a similar level ability wise in my mind to AJ, I would prefer to watch a Samoa Joe or Low Ki match over an AJ one. Even though you know what you are going to get before watching its the way they carry themsleves and how the things they do fit seamlessly into the persona they have created that makes them and the matches they are in worth watching. I never get that with AJ, possibly because he is still the dull uninteresting persona I firt started watching a decade ago.

to be fair to the lad he has branched out and tried things and taken risks. From the recent AJ Claire Lynsh stuff to the dumb Prince AJ stuff he has done his best but never came close to be as entertaining as Eric Young in any of the risky stuff he did. Actually ne was never entertaining in any of those things at all.

In fact 10 years after I started watching him i'm not sure what AJ Styles is nor do I believe what I see in the ring is a real person so that is why I don't have much interest in watching him anymore.

Sorry that ended up being so long.

Ando's Saggy Bottom

Talented athlete but no more so than plenty other cruisers out there. Doesn't really deserve his TNA push and hasn't a great personality. Has been way overexposed at this stage to the extent Im inclined to think he sucks a bit.

Andersonisgod

DM-ICE wrote: »

Bell to Bell he is very good.

A decade ago was an exciting talent with potential and when I could I would watch him and enjoyed following his progress.

For me though he did not develop into a great and at this stage i'm not bothered about watching him.

The best wrestlers can do very little in the ring to grab your attention. The reason they can do this (for me) is they create a persona that they can then use during a match. This persona initially pulls me into the match at a basic level as if they are good at creating an interesting persona I will want to see them triumph or be beaten. Then they can add to a match by playing up to that persona for example a cocky look into the camera from CM Punk and he has me hooked into the match. The other thing is I feel like I know who CM Punk is even though I never met him so its adds a sense of realism. An over the top guy like Damian Sandow wouldn't have anything like AJs ability technically and as fake as he is I can believe in his over the top persona and enjoy his matches thanks to it.

Take a great match I watched over the weekend like Suzuki v Tanahashi, I can't speak Japanese and before watching the match I didn't know anything about Suzuki but after watching I knew he was a bad ass just by the way he acted. The way the lads perfromed the figure 4 move had me enthralled and when I break it down all they did was scream shout and use some mad expressions. It was how that moment fitted both guys persona's that made it mean something and added a lot to the match.

I don't ever get ingaged by the AJ Styles persona in that way. Even though they would be on a similar level ability wise in my mind to AJ, I would prefer to watch a Samoa Joe or Low Ki match over an AJ one. Even though you know what you are going to get before watching its the way they carry themsleves and how the things they do fit seamlessly into the persona they have created that makes them and the matches they are in worth watching. I never get that with AJ, possibly because he is still the dull uninteresting persona I firt started watching a decade ago.

to be fair to the lad he has branched out and tried things and taken risks. From the recent AJ Claire Lynsh stuff to the dumb Prince AJ stuff he has done his best but never came close to be as entertaining as Eric Young in any of the risky stuff he did. Actually ne was never entertaining in any of those things at all.

In fact 10 years after I started watching him i'm not sure what AJ Styles is nor do I believe what I see in the ring is a real person so that is why I don't have much interest in watching him anymore.

Sorry that ended up being so long.

Maybe that's where we differ. I'm into his matches from the time the bell rings because I always expect a great match from him. The constant, and yet effortless, brilliance of his dropkick spot should hook anybody.

You know I only watched that match a few days ago aswell and ye it was superb and both clearly have a lot of charisma and personality (afterall look at Suzuki's hair) and Minoru's facial expressions are quality. Styles might not have the same level of killer facial expressions (and if it were just about that then Randy Orton would be one of the best ever) but they are more than above average and the work he does in the ring more than compensates for it.

The character has been shunted about and changed quite a bit but, for the most part, the core has remained the same, he is a phenomenal wrestler who can outperform any opponent and amaze while doing it.

thebostoncrab

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Maybe that's where we differ. I'm into his matches from the time the bell rings because I always expect a great match from him. The constant, and yet effortless, brilliance of his dropkick spot should hook anybody.

With that you have highlighted one of my main problems with watching AJ wrestle; it seems like nothing but spots, with very little flow between them. Worse off, it's the same spots time and time again. Wrestlers that are less athletic often get critisied for using the same spots over and over, but flips and jumps do not make someone immune from the same crime.

When I first started watching ROH at around 2004, by God I was blown away by what AJ could do. It's something I see in alot of people when they watch him at first, he is an excellent athlete and to see someone like that in North America at the time was special.

But over time as other guys started becoming exposed that wrestled with a simular style, I became less and less excited by an AJ Styles contest, because along came guys that did the same thing but with one key difference; they kept me interested and could suspend my disbelieve. Guys like Evan Bourne for example or easily one of the best wrestlers in the world right now, El Generico.

As highlighted already by another poster, AJ seems to still be where he was a decade ago. Being an excellent wrestler as your gimmick is fine and others have done it before and made it work. Guys like Benoit, Angle and Daniel Bryan. The difference between them and AJ is they have character and personality behind them, while AJ has none and he does the one thing that pisses me off most in wrestling: he almost reminds me that what Im watching isn't real.

I think AJ's success is done to being at the right place at the right time with TNA, but it could have been someone else just as easily.

Andersonisgod

Right I've seen Evan Bournes name mentioned a few times when talking about Styles. I don't understand the connection at all. They are both small and athletic, that's where the comparisons should end. It's the equivalent of saying "Test would have been as good as Triple H if he had gotten the same push." No, he wouldn't have, they are both big guys with long, similar hair, that's where the similarities end. There would be a point to it if Bourne had been a major player in ROH or TNA but he wasn't, you'd be better off using Paul London as a comparison.

As I said, ye Styles is great for a highlight reel but the guy has so much more. A brilliant example is his feud with Christopher Daniels, surely one of the greatest feuds of the last 20 years. Each match they had was different, they were always able to mix it up and tell a different story.

The man has been proficiently great for so long that I'm amazed he has been overlooked. His recent dabble in tag team wrestling made the TNA tag team division hotter than it has been in years. The standards he sets are so high, no matter what he is doing he makes it better than it has any right to be.

Lord TSC

I'll state before this post that it's one I make as someone who doesn't watch a whole lot of TNA.

I've never seen what all the fuss is about with Styles.

Watching the show on and off for so many years, there's been no evolution in his character. His matches always tend to be identical. He appears to be the TNA version of John Cena, except because he's smaller and can sell, he's touted as some amazing wrestler.

Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate that he's good at what he does in the ring, but I've never quite understood the undying love some people have for him, and I certainly NEVER saw why TNA or it's fans thought he'd be the guy who could challenge WWE's status as number one...

Andersonisgod

Teamshadowclan wrote: »

I'll state before this post that it's one I make as someone who doesn't watch a whole lot of TNA.

I've never seen what all the fuss is about with Styles.

Watching the show on and off for so many years, there's been no evolution in his character. His matches always tend to be identical. He appears to be the TNA version of John Cena, except because he's smaller and can sell, he's touted as some amazing wrestler.

Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate that he's good at what he does in the ring, but I've never quite understood the undying love some people have for him, and I certainly NEVER saw why TNA or it's fans thought he'd be the guy who could challenge WWE's status as number one...

I don't think anyone but a raving lunatic would claim that Styles can single handedly make TNA the number 1 company in north America.

However saying he is the TNA version of Cena is just as crazy. In terms of quality of ring work they are lightyears apart.

I do remember reading pro wrestling illustrated in 2003 and reading about AJ Styles pulling up trees in TNA. That's what first got me watching TNA, I'm sure it's the same for many others. The man put the company on the map.

DM_7

I think people mention Bourne as a person that could have achieved what AJ did if he was in the same position.

i'm not so sure myself, AJ is that bit bigger and when he is in the ring with a really big dude like Abyss he doesn't look as out of place. Also credit where its due AJ used the talents he has to push himself into those type of matches.

I have not seen enough of Bourne pre WWE to know what he can do apart from flips and flying kicks that initially got him over when he started on WWECW.

AJ can work a grounded style and just mix in his more flippy stuff rather than depend on it. He should have a long career as a result.

thebostoncrab

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Right I've seen Evan Bournes name mentioned a few times when talking about Styles. I don't understand the connection at all. They are both small and athletic, that's where the comparisons should end. It's the equivalent of saying "Test would have been as good as Triple H if he had gotten the same push." No, he wouldn't have, they are both big guys with long, similar hair, that's where the similarities end. There would be a point to it if Bourne had been a major player in ROH or TNA but he wasn't, you'd be better off using Paul London as a comparison.

HHH is a world class athlete and got to where he is by hard work, keeping himself fresh and interesting and by a wealth of classic contests. Test was a good wrestler that, while entertaing, wasn't a main event level star. As you would agree, anyone who compares the two as equals belongs in the lunny bin. But comparing Styles and Sydal (Let's talk pre WWE for the sack of comparison) are incredibly simular.

Both men are known for their athletic skills, can take to the air while also working a ground game and their work as both singles and tag team wrestlers. They are a simular build and height and are more or less as good as one another in terms of skill...for the most part. Sydal has the edge simply because keeps himself fresh and actually has personality. AJ always looks confused when trying to show emotion, esepcially when he played a heel. But when Sydal was a cocky heel just before signing with the 'E, it was really entertaining and helped make him one of the most loved guys on the indies. The only reason he didn't become a main eventer was because of Dragon Gate being his real home & his signing at his most succesfull year. If he was a bit older he would have been making more waves than AJ and easily been a big name for TNA.

Andersonisgod wrote: »

As I said, ye Styles is great for a highlight reel but the guy has so much more. A brilliant example is his feud with Christopher Daniels, surely one of the greatest feuds of the last 20 years. Each match they had was different, they were always able to mix it up and tell a different story.

The feud that people keep complaining never ends? They had had some great matches Ill agree but it has been going on for so long that Im begging for one of them to leave the company for a year so they can both doing something new. Yes they click brilliantly in matches but we have seen it too many times at this stage. Plus Daniels is the most entertaining part of their matches, as he does what AJ doesn't. Keeps himself updated, always gives something new and never fails to disappoint. Helps that he is a much better wrestler also and deserves a moment at the top of the mountain in TNA more than AJ.

Andersonisgod wrote: »

The man has been proficiently great for so long that I'm amazed he has been overlooked. His recent dabble in tag team wrestling made the TNA tag team division hotter than it has been in years. The standards he sets are so high, no matter what he is doing he makes it better than it has any right to be.

He set standards with other men though that have risen above their matches. Unfortunately some have ended up suffering from TNAs booking system but that's not their fault. Samoa Joe being the biggest (No pun intended) example, or if we include the indies, Punk and Bryan. AJ however has stayed at the same level doing the same thing.

DM_7

Pete Campbell wrote: »

Talented athlete but no more so than plenty other cruisers out there. Doesn't really deserve his TNA push and hasn't a great personality. Has been way overexposed at this stage to the extent Im inclined to think he sucks a bit.

I agree with the the vanilla/boring comments from the other thread.

But -

Why do you think he doesn't deserve his TNA push? Its not like he is presented as the man in TNA like HHH was in WWE and I think he deserved his placement(s) over the years in the company despite the problems I have with him. He was fighting with so many old timers it was great to see him rise and stay afloat amongst them all.

The Likes of Roode have probably overtaken him as Mr TNA now from what I can see so its not like he is forced down your throat. 3 years since he was champ??

Ando's Saggy Bottom

Yeah Styles/Daniels got fairly old about six years ago.

Ando's Saggy Bottom

DM-ICE wrote: »

I agree with some of the vanilla/boring cooments from the other thread.

But -

Why do you think he doesn't deserve his TNA push? Its not like he is presented as the man in TNA like HHH was in WWE and I think he deserved his placement(s) over the years in the company despite the problems I have with him. He was fighting with so many old timers it was great to see him rise and stay afloat amongst them all.

The Likes of Roode have probably overtaken him as Mr TNA now from what I can see so its not like he is forced down your throat. 3 years since he was champ??

I just think there were plenty more deserving of his TNA push than he. I think guys like Aries or Shelley are better in the ring for example and have much more personality.

Bounty Hunter

I guess I'd be like TSC when I say that I havent always watched all that much of TNA but when I did AJ impressed me in ring. His character / outside the ring personality perhaps needed some work if he was going to progress imo but I was still interested in seing more of him. However anytime I have dipped in and out of watching any TNA since he has seemed the exact same to me. He's still impressive in the ring but I do feel I've seen it all before and I'm no longer that bothered about seing him wrestle nor after so long do I expect him to progress to more than he currently is. That's not neccesarily a slight against the man as he has done very well in his career but I wouldnt pick him in the draft for example (unless he dropped way down the picks) as I dont think there is more to come from him we havent seen and thus would struggle to write for him.

DM_7

Pete Campbell wrote: »

I just think there were plenty more deserving of his TNA push than he. I think guys like Aries or Shelley are better in the ring for example and have much more personality.

Of the people in TNA at those times was he not deserving of his push though? Considering he was with them from the beginning and established on the roster.

Aries was never a real factor in his first run but that changed second time round so got ahead of AJ.

I agree that Shelley for sure is a more engaging persona and could have been used better when compared to some others.

rossie1977

i don't mind styles but he encompasses alot that is wrong with pro wrestling this past 10 years, wrestlers performing a bunch of unconnected acrobatic spots, little or no psychology, zero ability to use facials or truly work the crowd (if you discount spots), i can't believe someone compared shawn michaels to styles on this thread, shawn was athletic but thats where the comparisions end, shawn showed more psychology as a ref at mania 28 than aj has shown in any match i have ever watched him in

i watched steen and generico right after the tlc match, the wwe match had everything, great selling, great facials, great storytelling, the big spots were part of the match but they were not the ENTIRE match, the roh match was a bunch of unconnected stunts that meant little

Sirsok

Growing up I was restricted to wee and wcw growing up until the wrestling channel came about and upon watching twc the one guy that always stood out for me was aj. Watching his match v johnny storm or in the x div was truly exhilarating however the past few years he has not impressed me as much and just seems like another guy. Now weather that is due to over exposure to crazy wrestling or how he was handled in tba I don't know. I remember being totally put of him around the whole Tyson Tomko tag team and since then it hasn't been much better, the flair thing really put me off with the whole cheap robe thing. I think to really mean something to me again he has to have a fresh start and quit tba altogether.... If given a sustained push in wwe he could become a major player I feel all though he doesn't have the charisma some may have he certainly can compensate by his wrestling abilities...however like Gabriel Bourne and Kidd he could easily be forgotten about and relegated to a money in the bank filler wrestler!

gnfnrhead

If you think Evan Bourne (aka a WWE jobber who spends more time suspended than wrestling these days) is a better wrestler than Styles, you're just as high as he is. Bourne is all flips and little substance. Styles meanwhile can wrestle pretty much any style and do it convincingly. The only negative about him would be his lack of a gimmick. He's just AJ Styles, always the good guy. Saying that, Benoit didn't have much of a gimmick either but you won't see anyone write him off because of it.

Andersonisgod

gnfnrhead wrote: »

If you think Evan Bourne (aka a WWE jobber who spends more time suspended than wrestling these days) is a better wrestler than Styles, you're just as high as he is. Bourne is all flips and little substance. Styles meanwhile can wrestle pretty much any style and do it convincingly. The only negative about him would be his lack of a gimmick. He's just AJ Styles, always the good guy. Saying that, Benoit didn't have much of a gimmick either but you won't see anyone write him off because of it.

Well said.

DM_7

Benoit used his lack of personality to his advantage though. Straight faced with face bashing intentions and an in ring intensity that was attention grabbing from the get go - so I would think that is why few wrote Benoit off.

GTR63

How many here watch Tna every week going by the impact thread its not that many.

gnfnrhead

GTR63 wrote: »

How many here watch Tna every week going by the impact thread its not that many.

I did until a few weeks ago. My interest had been on the slide since Bound for Glory and when I missed one week I just havent bothered catching up yet. I've missed two or three shows now and dont have much interest in catching up. I'll watch the X-Division show and maybe Genesis.

thebostoncrab

GTR63 wrote: »

How many here watch Tna every week going by the impact thread its not that many.

Every single Sunday but I don't comment in the threads

DM_7

I watch bits and pieces now but stopped watching every week as I stopped enjoying it. Mostly just tune in to see who is on and switch if its not interesting.

Sirsok

GTR63 wrote: »

How many here watch Tna every week going by the impact thread its not that many.

I went to oz and found it extremely hard to keep up with it there then when i moved home and in with mates i didnt have the channels. I keep updated on YouTube but can't seem to find challenge on upc ,download the ppv if I don't read the spoilers before hand but very much a wwe guy now whereas when tna was on twc and bravo I was tna flat out had every ppv recorded! Shame really

Omackeral

Seeing AJ Styles live is a treat. You're just mesmerized that he can still do it after all these years. I must say I thought his Street Fight with Daniels was very good and showed a side of him I haven't really seen before.

If he were to land in WWE over his career, he would've been just another Paul London I reckon....

JP Liz V1

GTR63 wrote: »

How many here watch Tna every week going by the impact thread its not that many.

I dip in and out and tbh I dont think I have ever seen a bad match featuring Styles, I'm still hoping for a decent feud between him and Aries

He is pretty much the face of TNA (and oh what a face I'm biased of course because he is so sexy ) also he works better as a face imo

I think 2013 could be a big year for him hopefully winning the BFG series as he can’t get a title shot until BFG

rossie1977

gnfnrhead wrote: »

If you think Evan Bourne (aka a WWE jobber who spends more time suspended than wrestling these days) is a better wrestler than Styles, you're just as high as he is. Bourne is all flips and little substance.

better maybe not but you are comparing a guy who was used as lower tier guy in wwe (rarely getting to show what he could do) with someone pushed hard in tna for 10 years, put bourne in a long match and you get something like this

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xq1x2j_fatal-four-way-2010-evan-bourne-vs-chris-jericho_sport#.UOn6neRg9uA

DEFTLEFTHAND

Do people think he's missed his chance to go to WWE? Did they ever even try and sign him before?

He'll be 36 this year, with his style and pace of wrestling he's abilities may begin to wain soon, it would be nice to see him at least have one run in the big league.

gnfnrhead

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Do people think he's missed his chance to go to WWE? Did they ever even try and sign him before?

He'll be 36 this year, with his style and pace of wrestling he's abilities may begin to wain soon, it would be nice to see him at least have one run in the big league.

He turned them down before signing with TNA.

He said recently that he plans to retire in the next few years. Cant remember how long he said though.

Andersonisgod

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Do people think he's missed his chance to go to WWE? Did they ever even try and sign him before?

He'll be 36 this year, with his style and pace of wrestling he's abilities may begin to wain soon, it would be nice to see him at least have one run in the big league.

Why should he? He makes a comfortable living working for TNA, he is pushed as one of their top stars, he has carved out a reputation for himself.

Why should he give up all of that only to, insultingly, be told he can't work, get sent to development to learn how to work "the right way" perhaps eventually be called up, work a hectic scheduled, probably never get past the mid card and get less money for doing it all.

In TNA he has the freedom to work however he likes, he is a top guy with a not so hectic scheduled and is on good money. He has no reason at all to leave.

Ando's Saggy Bottom

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Why should he? He makes a comfortable living working for TNA, he is pushed as one of their top stars, he has carved out a reputation for himself.

Why should he give up all of that only to, insultingly, be told he can't work, get sent to development to learn how to work "the right way" perhaps eventually be called up, work a hectic scheduled, probably never get past the mid card and get less money for doing it all.

In TNA he has the freedom to work however he likes, he is a top guy with a not so hectic scheduled and is on good money. He has no reason at all to leave.

Funny in the other thread you said he'd make it in WWE. The "cream would rise to the top" you said I believe. Yet now you think he'd be a mid carder. You're all over the gaffe on this topic tbh.

JP Liz V1

Wasnt he in WWE before I think he had a match(s) on Velocity or Heat

Ando's Saggy Bottom

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Wasnt he in WWE before I think he had a match(s) on Velocity or Heat

About his level alright. :pac:

Andersonisgod

Pete Campbell wrote: »

Funny in the other thread you said he'd make it in WWE. The "cream would rise to the top" you said I believe. Yet now you think he'd be a mid carder. You're all over the gaffe on this topic tbh.

You mis-understand me. Given the chance, the push, the opportunity to use his own persona and the time I believe he would rise to the top, afterall how could he not? He's AJ Styles.

However in reality upon arrival he would be told that he can't work, sent to development to learn how to work the WWE style, maybe be promoted but WWE would love to bury the face of TNA (since it began). He would probably be saddled with a stupid name ( Scotty Goldman anyone?) and would never be allowed to showcase the skills that have made him a star the world over. Instead he would be doing 3 minute tv matches, a couple of high spots and languish in the mid cards.

Given the chance he would absolutely succeed, the man has spent years perfecting his craft throughout the world and has met with critical acclaim wherever he has gone. But in WWE he would be unlikely to get the chance his talent deserves.

starviewadams

Great fun to watch,rarely has a bad match and I loved his daft 'Nature Boy' tribute act a few years ago.

Ando's Saggy Bottom

Yeah those Kids Punk and Danielson sure got lost in the mid card!

If Styles got lost in the if card it would be because he ain't all that at all. Talent does indeed rise - but a white Shelton Benjamin wouldnt.

GTR63

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Wasnt he in WWE before I think he had a match(s) on Velocity or Heat

I'll quote you Liz. It was Metal iirc vs Hurricane. Velocity was A-Train vs Funaki every week psssst Vince book that soon again pleez.

JP Liz V1

Pete Campbell wrote: »

Yeah those Kids Punk and Danielson sure got lost in the mid card!

If Styles got lost in the if card it would be because he ain't all that at all. Talent does indeed rise - but a white Shelton Benjamin wouldnt.

Personally I think Styles is a better wrestler than Punk, I think he adapts better no matter who he is wrestling if that makes sense although Punk is better on the mic

Andersonisgod

Pete Campbell wrote: »

Yeah those Kids Punk and Danielson sure got lost in the mid card!

If Styles got lost in the if card it would be because he ain't all that at all. Talent does indeed rise - but a white Shelton Benjamin wouldnt.

How many TNA ppvs have Punk or Danielson headlined? How many of those were within say a year of them signing for WWE? Signing AJ Styles, the homegrown face of TNA for a decade, is completely different to signing Punk or Danielson. That is obvious. I'm not sure whether you are being purposefully ignorant or simply naive.

I'm also questioning how much you've actually seen of Styles judging by your comments. The man is a master mat technician whose had all sorts of feuds, had more than credible matches with big man workers (Abyss and he even dragged something decent out of Kevin Nash), with wrestlers past their prime (Sting, Jarrett, Booker T) and with great ring technicians too (Joe, Angle, Punk, Roode ect.) Saying that he is a Heat level talent or calling him a white Shelton Benjamin only discredits you.

Ando's Saggy Bottom

Andersonisgod wrote: »

How many TNA ppvs have Punk or Danielson headlined? How many of those were within say a year of them signing for WWE? Signing AJ Styles, the homegrown face of TNA for a decade, is completely different to signing Punk or Danielson. That is obvious. I'm not sure whether you are being purposefully ignorant or simply naive.

I'm also questioning how much you've actually seen of Styles judging by your comments. The man is a master mat technician whose had all sorts of feuds, had more than credible matches with big man workers (Abyss and he even dragged something decent out of Kevin Nash), with wrestlers past their prime (Sting, Jarrett, Booker T) and with great ring technicians too (Joe, Angle, Punk, Roode ect.) Saying that he is a Heat level talent or calling him a white Shelton Benjamin only discredits you.

Ah Im only pulling yer leg based on our debate a few weeks ago.

Though calling him a master mat technician makes me laugh.

Andersonisgod

Pete Campbell wrote: »

Ah Im only pulling yer leg based on our debate a few weeks ago.

Though calling him a master mat technician makes me laugh.

Haha I'd say mission accomplished.

As you probably noticed at that stage I'm scraping the barrel to find new ways of calling him a great wrestler.

Ando's Saggy Bottom

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Haha I'd say mission accomplished.

As you probably noticed at that stage I'm scraping the barrel to find new ways of calling him a great wrestler.

Whereas I still have loads of ways of putting him down. :pac:

Hurricane without the charisma.

Charlie Haas' angry midget hick cousin.

Lance Storm without the personality.

Scrunch faced spot monkey.

Andersonisgod

Pete Campbell wrote: »

Whereas I still have loads of ways of putting him down. :pac:

Hurricane without the charisma.

Charlie Haas' angry midget hick cousin.

Lance Storm without the personality.

Scrunch faced spot monkey.

Or a former Powerslam number 1 wrestler in the world. 4 time TNA World Champion. 6 time X Division Champion TNA's first Grandslam winner.

DM_7

Erm I wouldn't use powerslam or records in TNA as sources for how credible someone is...............

Ando's Saggy Bottom

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Or a former Powerslam number 1 wrestler in the world. 4 time TNA World Champion. 6 time X Division Champion TNA's first Grandslam winner.

They're actually better insults than the ones I posted! :pac:

If I posted John Cena's kayfabe achievements as evidence of his greatness, youd laugh me off the board......

Andersonisgod

Pete Campbell wrote: »

They're actually better insults than the ones I posted! :pac:

If I posted John Cena's kayfabe achievements as evidence of his greatness, youd laugh me off the board......

Well of course but Styles are worth a mention because it's not every 5 foot 10 (at a push), 200 pound (roughly) wrestler that wins as many titles in a top company as Styles has done.

thebostoncrab

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Well of course but Styles are worth a mention because it's not every 5 foot 10 (at a push), 200 pound (roughly) wrestler that wins as many titles in a top company as Styles has done.

Doesn't matter, it's still kayfabe. Plenty of small guys have done it before him and will do it after him also. Kayfabe accomplishments do not a good wrestler make.

Andersonisgod

thebostoncrab wrote: »

Doesn't matter, it's still kayfabe. Plenty of small guys have done it before him and will do it after him also. Kayfabe accomplishments do not a good wrestler make.

All the same, he hardly got his spot based on muscle mass or size.