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Post by Error on Aug 22, 2013 22:55:52 GMT -5
So after months of building AJ as a loner only out for money and himself, TNA drops it with absolutely no build or explanation. I don't think many thought No1 AJ was really working as a character but dropping it like they did was more than baffling. I'll admit to liking the change over from "Evil Ways" to "Get Ready to Fly" but this was weak, especially with how good TNA has been with keeping storylines going and building things.
What say you? Just off tonight, no waiting for next week or anything of that.
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Post by HMARK Center on Aug 22, 2013 22:58:10 GMT -5
Frankly, I actually liked the new AJ. Said it already, but I liked that he reflected a character shift for a guy who had storyline reasons for changing. Also really enjoyed his new, much more violent moveset and demeanor. Plus, since he was just a tweener, it wouldn't take more than a simple build up to eventually redeem him and bring him back as the "Phenomenal One" soon enough, anyway.
So this? Nope, didn't like this at all. Good crowd pop, AJ is always effective in the ring no matter what, but this was a blown chance at building up to a much more special moment. Again, should AJ win the BFG Series now, I feel like his title shot will feel a lot less climactic.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2013 23:00:45 GMT -5
Regular AJ will be way more over, but it's not exactly compelling storytelling.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2013 23:03:10 GMT -5
Just another reason why I don't let myself get too invested in things in TNA. I found it to be an honorable failure when they just threw out the new AJ's first promo like it wasn't really a big deal after all that time he was silent, and killed the mystique of the character by giving him such a simple new prime directive that didn't really match what he was going through (He fell off the radar because he lost a match that cost him a title opportunity for a year, it had nothing to do with "heroes"), they still cultivated a new look and ring style for him that I found pretty cool, but the way they just haphazardly aborted it.
People can say what they will whether the new attitude was working or not, but I never understand how TNA commits full tilt to just the most awful shit (Main Event Mafia, Aces and Eights, now Main Event Mafia AND Aces and Eights) yet hardly even try with other stuff. I don't care how quickly they had to act without Angle, just throwing AJ out there like that is just a cheap thrill and just damages the big picture in the end. I will not be surprised if next week AJ is brooding again and acts like he did that to see if anyone would fall for it, and that he's not a good guy, blah blah blah.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2013 23:04:15 GMT -5
I will wait for the explanation. I'm sure the non-kayfabe reason is due to Kurt Angle's issues, but TNA is usually good at explaining storylines nowadays, so I will reserve judgment until AJ's explanation promo.
I said before, I actually thought they were not going to have AJ win the BFG Series before this. I figured they "James Storm'd" that idea and were leaning in another direction. However, this face turn pretty much cements a Bully/Styles main event at BFG for me. They couldn't do Styles vs. Bully if AJ remained the tweener face. He had to turn eventually. It was probably too soon, and they definitely should have built it up for weeks before it happened, but the actual turn had to happen eventually.
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Post by HMARK Center on Aug 22, 2013 23:12:07 GMT -5
That's the thing, though: the image of Aces and Eights seeming like an unbreakable bulwark defending champion Bully Ray, with other TNA forces (even the MEM) unable to get rid of them, with only "lone wolf" AJ Styles as the savior...it's a good, effective, climactic image. It's such a big reason why "Crow Sting" worked so well when WCW did it, because from the ashes of a fallen army, a lone hero stood up to defeat ultimate evil (let's ignore the botched ending for the time being, shall we?).
With this, the tension is gone. If this carries over to next week, and AJ is siding with the Mafia...then what makes him any different from them? What would be the difference between AJ, Magnus, or Joe getting the title shot? It'd be the same storyline for all three of them, with some minor differences around the edges.
Honestly, I kind of hope AJ comes back out next week to the "Evil Ways" theme, with just some slight differences to mark that, yes, he's got some of the old "Phenomenal" spark back, but no, he won't be joining anybody's team going forward, and that this was a one night deal to establish that he, personally, as a one man army, is declaring war on Aces and Eights, and Bully Ray specifically.
If he's out there teaming with the Mafia next week or whatever, though? That'd just be an utter booking botch.
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JoDaNa1281
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Post by JoDaNa1281 on Aug 22, 2013 23:17:53 GMT -5
I will wait for the explanation. I'm sure the non-kayfabe reason is due to Kurt Angle's issues, but TNA is usually good at explaining storylines nowadays, so I will reserve judgment until AJ's explanation promo. Like you said, I'm sure the crap with Angle was the real reason they kinda rushed it, but yeah, I'll wait until they have him explain it to completely judge it.
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Post by Error on Aug 22, 2013 23:19:43 GMT -5
I will wait for the explanation. I'm sure the non-kayfabe reason is due to Kurt Angle's issues, but TNA is usually good at explaining storylines nowadays, so I will reserve judgment until AJ's explanation promo. Like you said, I'm sure the crap with Angle was the real reason they kinda rushed it, but yeah, I'll wait until they have him explain it to completely judge it. Except I asked for reactions based completely on tonight. Oh well.
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Post by Been burned too many times on Aug 22, 2013 23:20:34 GMT -5
Yeah Kurt Angle getting drunk messed up the plans, obviously the reveal wasn't supposed to happen tonight.
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Post by HMARK Center on Aug 22, 2013 23:23:12 GMT -5
Again though, even with Angle's problems, why not slot somebody else in that spot for tonight? A few folks have said it, but Sabin could've gotten some revenge heat there...hell, Abyss could've randomly showed up again...whatever, there's multiple ways it could've gone.
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JoDaNa1281
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Post by JoDaNa1281 on Aug 22, 2013 23:24:07 GMT -5
Like you said, I'm sure the crap with Angle was the real reason they kinda rushed it, but yeah, I'll wait until they have him explain it to completely judge it. Except I asked for reactions based completely on tonight. Oh well. Just based on this week's show, I was disappointed with it. I understood why they did it, but yeah, still a little disappointed(though I did like the change from "Evil Ways" to "Get Ready To Fly" and the crowd reaction).
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Rave
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Post by Rave on Aug 22, 2013 23:26:19 GMT -5
There'd better be a real good explanation, because it's not good to do something like that without any semblance of buildup to it.
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Post by The Trashman on Aug 22, 2013 23:26:53 GMT -5
Was this really going anywhere anyway? Probably not
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Post by Been burned too many times on Aug 22, 2013 23:45:05 GMT -5
Again though, even with Angle's problems, why not slot somebody else in that spot for tonight? A few folks have said it, but Sabin could've gotten some revenge heat there...hell, Abyss could've randomly showed up again...whatever, there's multiple ways it could've gone. This is the same crowd that chanted "SABIN SUCKS!" last week when he fought Bully. Doubt the crowd would have cared as much. Also now the added story of AJ being the one to 'retire' D-von is on the table. Bully would want revenge for that and obviously AJ wants the title.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2013 0:10:06 GMT -5
Like you said, I'm sure the crap with Angle was the real reason they kinda rushed it, but yeah, I'll wait until they have him explain it to completely judge it. Except I asked for reactions based completely on tonight. Oh well. Execution was good. The crowd popped big and I thought it was well done. It was definitely rushed though. It should have been built up more, and certainly not on a taped show. The reasoning behind it is the main issue, and we won't know that until the explanation.
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siredger
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Post by siredger on Aug 23, 2013 0:36:02 GMT -5
Of course, we all know why AJ was brought into that match but as far as the execution, I thought that in the spur of the moment, the reaction was exactly the one TNA needed. As for what will ensue, we'll have to wait for the explanation (hopefully next week) to see if overall, that sudden alliance with Main Event Mafia makes sense. It is now clear that TNA is going for AJ vs Bully at BFG.
However, I might have another theory on this turn of events. According to PWInsider, AJ Styles' contract is up in September and they haven't reached an agreement yet. What if TNA decided to rush his "face turn" to convince him to stick with the company and pushing for him to win the BFG series? Even if we're not exactly sure what WWE would actually do with AJ Styles on their roster, it would be a devastating loss for TNA to lose one of its 2 flagship players who have been in the company since Day 1. It might seem far-fetched but I think we have to keep that in mind....
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2013 5:29:50 GMT -5
I didn't like mopey AJ, but this sudden change, presuming it is a complete change back to Phenomenal AJ, screwed up months of character and story building.
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SOR
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Post by SOR on Aug 23, 2013 7:04:11 GMT -5
Here's the way I see it.
AJ realizes that Aces and Eights are about to over run TNA and even though he's upset at his treatment of some of TNA's wrestlers and fans it's still his company, the company he helped build and the company he loves and respects. When the company needs him most he's there to save the day and help Team TNA (The Main Event Mafia) overcome the evil Aces and Eights.
Does it make sense? Yes. Was it rushed? I don't think so. I read the spoilers last week and figured everyone would hate it though but the above passage is an explanation of why the story makes sense. It didn't need build it was a surprise turn when TNA needed someone most.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2013 8:28:01 GMT -5
Total slap in the face to the viewers. I fell asleep right after that happened. Emo AJ sucked, but just changing him right back like nothing happened sucks worse.
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bob
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Post by bob on Aug 23, 2013 8:46:28 GMT -5
They would've been better off having Chris Sabin replace Angle. He had a damn good reason to want to fight the bikers and it would've made sense.
They basically eliminated all the character development that AJ Styles had over the past year. They blew it.
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