Does Anyone WANT To See AJ Styles Main Event a PPV in 2024?

[LiamMcDuggle]

The prospect of him being Cody's first opponent is not really that exciting to me. I know Cody needs opponents, but I don't know if AJ has ever had less momentum as a pro.

[BorneAgain]

His ring work is always great, but character wise Styles becoming goofy 2007 AJ again and bragging about his superior video game skills in comparison to Cody would be fun. I need at least one AJ promo where he mocks Rhodes for having Ocarina of Time as his favorite entry in the Zelda series.

[ChitownKnight]

He kind of just feels like a run of the mill challenger. But it’s alright though, the guy is the same age as Cena and Brock and they’re barely even part time. I don’t see any harm in him being a B PPV challenger

[schizo]

Yes

[SkullTrauma]

hell no

[Gerard Gerard]

It’s been a while since AJ has been positioned as anything other than a gatekeeper, but suspect Cody/AJ can cobble together enough buzz between their history outside WWE and a back and forth match.

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

I get it being a hard sell. You can't spend all that time having Rhodes chase this gold and have him beat the longest-running world champion since Hogan just to lose it on the first defense, so Styles is doing a thankless job here. But also, you can't have Rhodes sitting on the belt like an egg waiting for a believable threat (either Rock, because that's the future match that got teased, or Gunther) to come along and not defend it in the meantime. That's what we got mad at the last guy about.

[welshpenguin]

Sure, especially if we get goofy heel AJ back.

[john84]

I wouldn't hate it since he's one of my boys but with the exception of the Royal Rumble or maybe the Elimination Chamber I don't think he will unless he is one of Cody's challengers for the title.

[chronocross]

Sure I don't mind as I think it's a good first title defense for Cody.

[Futureraven: Beelzebruv]

It's a fine placeholder, it'd be nice if they knew who the next big challenger is going to be, if Rock will be coming back, if it's going to be Gunther and have them get involved in the buildup or match somehow.

So, while Cody's a fighting champion who clearly won't lose this, there's a hook to future developments.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

Apr 16, 2024 6:47:59 GMT -5 EoE: Well There's Your Problem said:

I get it being a hard sell. You can't spend all that time having Rhodes chase this gold and have him beat the longest-running world champion since Hogan just to lose it on the first defense, so Styles is doing a thankless job here. But also, you can't have Rhodes sitting on the belt like an egg waiting for a believable threat (either Rock, because that's the future match that got teased, or Gunther) to come along and not defend it in the meantime. That's what we got mad at the last guy about.

As of now, Cody's biggest drawing asset is fans seeing him as the champion. The high from his WM40 win hasn't worn off yet, so he probably can wrestle some successful defenses against the upper midcard like Styles, Knight, Owens and Orton for a few months until either someone gets an equally massive push or whenever it's time to restart the Rock feud.

[Cvslfc123]

It does remind me of when Kane was Daniel Bryan's first PPV challenger after WrestleMania 30.

[BRV]

The pros are that AJ Styles and Cody Rhodes would have a great one-on-one match, they've never squared off before, and it would elevate AJ Styles from spinning his wheels in the mid-card into a temporary main event slot.

The cons are that he's not really a believable threat to end Cody's reign and that his feud with LA Knight is not at all settled, so they'd be temporarily abandoning a months-long feud for a quick one-off title match.

[Sparkybob]

Apr 16, 2024 6:47:59 GMT -5 EoE: Well There's Your Problem said:

I get it being a hard sell. You can't spend all that time having Rhodes chase this gold and have him beat the longest-running world champion since Hogan just to lose it on the first defense, so Styles is doing a thankless job here. But also, you can't have Rhodes sitting on the belt like an egg waiting for a believable threat (either Rock, because that's the future match that got teased, or Gunther) to come along and not defend it in the meantime. That's what we got mad at the last guy about.

Yea I guess instead they can have just promoted a young heel like Santos Escobar as a test to see how they fare in a main event before being pushed down the card but there is a risk of overexposing a young dude so AJ is a safe choice to take the L but also a very low ceiling one because AJ doesn't need the rub.

So it's a sensible choice but I can see the argument of saying hey do a 1 month run for a pure mid carder to see how he does.

[froggyfrog]

He match at Mania was good imo. He’s a credible main event heel and can eat an L. It’ll likely be a one off PPV and not the start of a long feud I think. I’m more than fine with it

[polarbearpete]

I think Styles and Cody is a worthy PPV main event. It’s a first-time ever match I think, too.

[schma]

I just had a thought, what if AJ Styles starts lowblowing Cody?

All kidding aside though, he's fine as a first opponent. We know Cody isn't losing here so AJ Styles works.

[krozor]

Can they do a Phenomenal Forearm into Cody Cutter spot? I will base the success or failure of the program entirely on that.

[dbrussel]

I mean...he's not Chris Jericho. Guy can put some decent work