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Post by Red Impact on Aug 22, 2013 12:02:38 GMT -5
He's as old as Cena (who is on the downward slope of his career) is now, without the decade of exposure to the WWE crowd. TNA isn't on WCW's level right now, so him being a big-name TNA guy is going to have less carry over potential. In other words, I don't think he has the name value to immediately propel him high enough to make it worth his while, I don't think he's a big enough guy to really be a special attraction like Batista and Kane and Sheamus were, and I just don't think he has the time to climb up the card like other guys his size inevitably have to do. It's not a matter of talent, he's very talented, but he will have to compete with people a lot younger than him or limited tv time, and with a WWE schedule he may only have a few years of really being a top-level performer to make a splash. For where he is in his career, I really do think he'l get the most respect and best card placement re-signing than he would trying to go to WWE, where he will have to be re-packaged and start from, not the bottom as in FCW, but the bottom of the TV guys probably. On the other hand, while he may be as old as Cena, he hasn't been working the WWE schedule which really puts bodies through the wringer, just ask Brock Lesnar. It always amuses me to hear how <big name TNA guy> doesn't have a big enough name to make an impact in the WWE, given how they've managed to make guys like CM Punk and former ECW names seem like a big deal when they've performed for most of their careers until that point in front of a far smaller audience than TNA. If they want AJ Styles enough to offer him a better deal than he would get from TNA or Japan, they will get him over, even if they have to wait until a show in the smarkiest audience they can find. TNA isn't WCW, but it's not ECW either, they've had far, far more exposure on a national and international level. While it's true that he hasn't been working the WWE schedule, he's still getting up there in age for a guy doing what he's doing to basically have to start from scratch with the WWE audience. It amuses me when people try to compare every guy to CM Punk. CM Punk's mic skills really are leaps and bounds better than just about anyone else's in the business and he has a look that separates him. And it still really took them 6 years from the time he was signed to be willing to give him the ball to run with, unless we pretend that the WHC and being put on the B-Show is the same as being WWE champion and main eventer. Even if we put AJ Styles on that same expedited route, which I don't think he would be put on, Punk wasn't 40 when he got the WWE title, he's younger than AJ is now. If you think age and look plays no role in how they decide who they push, more power to you, but I just don't think that's the case. And even if they waited for the smarkiest audience they could find, I don't think they'd treat Styles nearly the same way that they treated Punk. Styles doesn't have the indy darling trying to make it in the big leagues aura that Punk had, Styles has been with TNA for 11 years, not really a true indie guy anymore. I mean, he's not Cena, but he's not Bryan or Punk either. The ECW comparison isn't really a fair one to me. WWE embraced ECW, they even did an invasion angle with them back in 1997, before they owned ECW. They don't treat TNA the same way, and probably won't. Not to mention that, at the time ECW was hot, the business was in an entirely different and much more mainstream than it is now. If Styles went to WWE, I really don't see him getting the respect that he would in TNA, even if his TNA run hasn't always been rosy. I think his age would probably cap him out at the US Title level. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think his window to truly be able to reach the level in WWE that he's talented enough to reach has passed.
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Post by Sparvid on Aug 22, 2013 12:06:44 GMT -5
Fixed.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2013 12:15:02 GMT -5
I think it'd be smartest to re-sign with TNA, unless he's getting a good deal to go to Japan. I don't see a wrestler of his age and his size getting too much consideration from WWE, even if he is talented. I see your point but he is 36, to compare him to RVD 42, Kane 46 and others on the current WWE roster (who are doing very well considering their age) I think he has enough time left to make ot worth while in the WWE. Especially since he changed his style in the past year or two that would be more applicable to the WWE style. I would really, really want to see him in the company, plus I think he can bypass developmental he is that talented. The problem with that is that RVD and Kane are established WWE guys. That is a huge reason why Jeff Hardy or Kurt Angle could go back and be treated like a big deal but AJ wouldn't be. Combine that with the fact that AJ doesn't have a really great look, blow away mic skills, or over the top charisma and he's just a new guy with an average wrestling build that happens to be a good wrestler. The E has a bunch of guys like that already. AJ is talented but he doesn't bring anything to the table that the E doesn't already have younger guys doing, and with as loaded as NXT is why even bother bringing in a guy like AJ?
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Post by The Dark Order Inferno on Aug 22, 2013 12:55:41 GMT -5
While it's true that he hasn't been working the WWE schedule, he's still getting up there in age for a guy doing what he's doing to basically have to start from scratch with the WWE audience. It amuses me when people try to compare every guy to CM Punk. CM Punk's mic skills really are leaps and bounds better than just about anyone else's in the business and he has a look that separates him. And it still really took them 6 years from the time he was signed to be willing to give him the ball to run with, unless we pretend that the WHC and being put on the B-Show is the same as being WWE champion and main eventer. Even if we put AJ Styles on that same expedited route, which I don't think he would be put on, Punk wasn't 40 when he got the WWE title, he's younger than AJ is now. If you think age and look plays no role in how they decide who they push, more power to you, but I just don't think that's the case. And even if they waited for the smarkiest audience they could find, I don't think they'd treat Styles nearly the same way that they treated Punk. Styles doesn't have the indy darling trying to make it in the big leagues aura that Punk had, Styles has been with TNA for 11 years, not really a true indie guy anymore. I mean, he's not Cena, but he's not Bryan or Punk either. The ECW comparison isn't really a fair one to me. WWE embraced ECW, they even did an invasion angle with them back in 1997, before they owned ECW. They don't treat TNA the same way, and probably won't. Not to mention that, at the time ECW was hot, the business was in an entirely different and much more mainstream than it is now. If Styles went to WWE, I really don't see him getting the respect that he would in TNA, even if his TNA run hasn't always been rosy. I think his age would probably cap him out at the US Title level. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think his window to truly be able to reach the level in WWE that he's talented enough to reach has passed. They resigned Matt Bloom, age 40, after failed push after failed push and nearly a decade away from the North American audience and gave him a push, it didn't take because of his history there. but they still tried. CM Punk didn't debut to a main event push, but he didn't debut to a chorus of 'whos?' or the apathy that greeted a lot of developmental callups at that time period, people knew who he was and responded, and I've no doubt if they timed AJ's debut properly he would get a reaction too. I don't for one moment expect them to debut AJ and give him the world heavyweight title, I expect him to be given a shot, a push to try and get him over to show what he can do. AJ is a lot like Bret Hart, while he's not the greatest on the mic, his ring skills and reputation as being TNA's top overall performer for the past 11 years will get him over, I just don't have faith in the WWE's booking to keep him there for any length of time because of it's history of schitzo booking when it comes to smaller, technical guys and its already crowded main event scene. I think his track record will give him a leg up in the eyes of management and the audience, I think he will challenge for the WHC belt, I just don't think his push will last because they already have people who can do what he does.
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Post by JTG Fan on Aug 22, 2013 12:57:38 GMT -5
At worst, AJ can be Evan Bourne without the wellness suspensions.
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kidglov3s
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Post by kidglov3s on Aug 22, 2013 13:15:02 GMT -5
It would be really weird to see AJ Styles in WWE with a different name because there's no way they'd let him be called AJ.
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Post by Red Impact on Aug 22, 2013 13:25:57 GMT -5
They resigned Matt Bloom, age 40, after failed push after failed push and nearly a decade away from the North American audience and gave him a push, it didn't take because of his history there. but they still tried. CM Punk didn't debut to a main event push, but he didn't debut to a chorus of 'whos?' or the apathy that greeted a lot of developmental callups at that time period, people knew who he was and responded, and I've no doubt if they timed AJ's debut properly he would get a reaction too. I don't for one moment expect them to debut AJ and give him the world heavyweight title, I expect him to be given a shot, a push to try and get him over to show what he can do. AJ is a lot like Bret Hart, while he's not the greatest on the mic, his ring skills and reputation as being TNA's top overall performer for the past 11 years will get him over, I just don't have faith in the WWE's booking to keep him there for any length of time because of it's history of schitzo booking when it comes to smaller, technical guys and its already crowded main event scene. I think his track record will give him a leg up in the eyes of management and the audience, I think he will challenge for the WHC belt, I just don't think his push will last because they already have people who can do what he does. Tensai didn't take because no one who didn't remember him could bring themselves to care, and those who did didn't take him seriously. And even then, he sort of proves my point, he didn't have the longetivity to connect with the audience, so it didn't work. And you really need to compare AJ to guys his size and style, because you could point to Batista being older when he started, but it's not the same for a hoss coming in and for a smaller, technical guy. New WWE guys AJ's size don't typically get pushed quickly. Punk had more than a smarky city, he was in a fairly newly revived ECW (before WWE pissed off that fanbase) doing a show at the old ECW arena while Heyman was still the face of the show. It's not just a matter of him being in a smarky city, there was a lot more to it that can't occur in the company anymore. I just don't think "TNA's top performer for more than a decade" will hold as much weight as you think, especially when, for most of that time, a lot of WWE's audience wasn't really aware of who was even in TNA (I'm reminded of Christian's stories where fans asked him why he wasn't wrestling anymore). And you are right to point out WWE's booking in it. Like I said earlier, I don't think it's a talent issue, I think it's a time issue. Smaller technical wrestlers don't get hot-shotted like body-builder types do. He has more talent than most of the WWE roster, but it takes time and a little bit of luck to get WWE to give you a shot if you don't like your silhouette belongs on the Gold's Gym logo, and being a new guy from TNA probably isn't going to change that.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2013 13:36:32 GMT -5
Styles is a TNA lifer.
No way he leaves nor will TNA let him go.
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Post by Widow's Peak on Aug 22, 2013 13:41:11 GMT -5
I fully expect AJ to re-sign and this to be like every other contract in recent memory that they've let expire or ran up until the last minute.
I don't think there is a single performer in TNA that WWE is dying for, so I can't imagine that they are particularly high on signing him. I think he could be a solid mid-carder, and the money might be a little better, but I'm not sure that he has a burning desire to go to WWE either.
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Post by lildude8218 on Aug 22, 2013 13:49:56 GMT -5
what's Stylin' Jah doing in the Full Sail Arena?
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Post by CATCH_US IS the Conversation on Aug 22, 2013 13:50:14 GMT -5
It would be really weird to see AJ Styles in WWE with a different name because there's no way they'd let him be called AJ. Allen Styles could work.
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Post by The Portable Stove on Aug 22, 2013 13:52:08 GMT -5
Yeah, he's not going anywhere. It's hard to imagine TNA without Styles.
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Post by Slammy Award-Winning Cannibal on Aug 22, 2013 14:42:51 GMT -5
It would be really weird to see AJ Styles in WWE with a different name because there's no way they'd let him be called AJ. Allen Styles could work. Cousin of Joey Styles.
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Post by Hit Girl on Aug 22, 2013 15:24:08 GMT -5
I'd be OK with him in WWE, as long as he was "(something else) Styles".
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kidglov3s
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Post by kidglov3s on Aug 22, 2013 15:38:30 GMT -5
If they call him (not AJ), is he going to wrestle in some kind of shirt or singlet deal to cover up his giant AJ tattoo? Or will they have him be a stalker?
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zeez
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Post by zeez on Aug 22, 2013 15:40:09 GMT -5
TNA can't lose AJ. Who else will vanquish the Aces and/or Eights?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2013 15:42:06 GMT -5
This is just another tease, he'll end up resigning like Roode sid, like Morgan did, etc... Doubt WWE is even interested with the way they are stacked in NXT with guys who are at least at AJ's level and 5-10 years younger.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2013 16:01:40 GMT -5
It's been mentioned many times, but TNA guys would not benefit by going to WWE and WWE would likely be more interested in true "indy" talent that haven't been featured on TV before (easier to mold them into WWE guys).
Styles, Aries, Roode, Storm, Daniels, Joe, Kazarian, etc, are not going anywhere. If there is anyone that might leave, it's someone like Magnus, but even that is hard to imagine.
The days of talent jumping ship are over. If TNA gets someone and makes them a star, they likely will stay in TNA.
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Post by Error on Aug 22, 2013 16:03:23 GMT -5
More from PWInsider:
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kidglov3s
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Post by kidglov3s on Aug 22, 2013 16:13:54 GMT -5
f*** I hope this doesn't send Anderson back to WWE, that WWE wouldn't take him back.
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