Abdullah
Hank Scorpio
Thank you, Ishmeal Loves Bayley!
Posts: 6,421
|
Post by Abdullah on Nov 4, 2014 11:40:28 GMT -5
The only heel act AJ has done since returning is walk out on Emma.
I'm just sad that this feud will take place exclusively on commentary.
|
|
|
Post by lesleymoon on Nov 4, 2014 14:29:52 GMT -5
The only heel act AJ has done since returning is walk out on Emma. I'm just sad that this feud will take place exclusively on commentary. She also attacked Eva Marie after a match between the two which Eva won, due to Paige causing shenanigans. There is also her general attitude and behavior. She is doing exactly the same stuff she was doing as a heel. She needs to change her game up but she hasn't.....so what makes her a face, then?
|
|
Abdullah
Hank Scorpio
Thank you, Ishmeal Loves Bayley!
Posts: 6,421
|
Post by Abdullah on Nov 4, 2014 14:41:42 GMT -5
The only heel act AJ has done since returning is walk out on Emma. I'm just sad that this feud will take place exclusively on commentary. She also attacked Eva Marie after a match between the two which Eva won, due to Paige causing shenanigans. There is also her general attitude and behavior. She is doing exactly the same stuff she was doing as a heel. She needs to change her game up but she hasn't.....so what makes her a face, then? I didn't forget that. But eh. It's Eva Marie. The criticism is misguided. AJ's attitude would be fine if she had a meaningful story to play off of. In these five minutes of filler, no one looks good. If Ambrose and Rollins had five minutes to get their characters across each show, their feud would suck too.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2014 15:52:08 GMT -5
Ya know, the weekly "let's try to rile up AJ fans" threads are getting pretty annoying. I noticed that they replaced the weekly "So uhh what's so great about this Ambrose guy?" threads lol.
|
|
|
Post by lesleymoon on Nov 4, 2014 16:42:10 GMT -5
I didn't forget that. But eh. It's Eva Marie. The criticism is misguided. AJ's attitude would be fine if she had a meaningful story to play off of. In these five minutes of filler, no one looks good. If Ambrose and Rollins had five minutes to get their characters across each show, their feud would suck too. I'll give you that Eva Marie is no great shakes, but it doesn't excuse bad characterization. It still would have been a dick move had it been any other diva. I totally agree with you that she wasn't given a very good story to play off of. That whole feud really did no one any favors. But it could have, with a few tweaks, been better. AJ could have shown a bit of humility and vulnerability and it would have done wonders for her. She could have toned down the dickishness...she didn't.
|
|
|
Post by Saiyanic Panic on Nov 4, 2014 17:05:35 GMT -5
AJ could have shown a bit of humility and vulnerability and it would have done wonders for her. She could have toned down the dickishness...she didn't. AJ's good by virtue of someone being worse. There's never been a watershed moment where AJ came to the realization that she was wrong in alienating her friends and co-workers for her behavior after being used as a scapegoat for "eighteen seconds". Though I'll argue she's better now than when she was churlishly mocking them during her time as GM. She hasn't once expressed any form of contrition for past misdeeds and is just an awful, shrewish person in kayfabe. What drives AJ as a heel staggers her as a face. So while I still like her, I do wish she'd evolve and get why some feel any blowback she gets is restitution for debts owed.
|
|
|
Post by lesleymoon on Nov 4, 2014 21:30:22 GMT -5
AJ's good by virtue of someone being worse. There's never been a watershed moment where AJ came to the realization that she was wrong in alienating her friends and co-workers for her behavior after being used as a scapegoat for "eighteen seconds". Though I'll argue she's better now than when she was churlishly mocking them during her time as GM. She hasn't once expressed any form of contrition for past misdeeds and is just an awful, shrewish person in kayfabe. What drives AJ as a heel staggers her as a face. So while I still like her, I do wish she'd evolve and get why some feel any blowback she gets is restitution for debts owed. This! You basically summed up one of the biggest issues with AJ's character and presentation. She has never had any real comeuppance as a heel, nor has she been sympathetic as a face. I get what they want to do with the character. They don't want to make her like every other diva...they want to make her tough and formidable, to kick ass and take names and hey, thats admirable. But they can do that and still let her grow and change. People WANT to like her and it wouldn't take much to push her over to the face side. Her return after her sabbatical would have been the perfect time. She could have come back, cut a promo talking about how she got a little out of control, underestimated Paige, and it bit her in the ass. Compliment Paige, say she gave her a challenge, but now, she is back, and she has a rematch coming, and she won't make the same mistake again. This, to me, gives her some sympathy, it shows some contrition, and also gives Paige a bit of a rub. Everyone wins.
|
|
|
Post by Saiyanic Panic on Nov 4, 2014 22:35:08 GMT -5
I thought they were going that way from her return promo, but they took a hard left into "Frenemies" and skipped from there.
AJ should not have won the title back from Paige her first night back in. Yeah, symmetry in their losses and underestimating your opponent and that's all cool. But a build-up would have done them both some serious good, particularly in generating some empathy again for AJ. Instead she picked up where she left off so every wrong she's done is kept in tally, and what all else she may do - considerable, as her character in AJ's own words normally acts "like a douche" - is added to the scales.
She digs on Eddie Guerrero's face/heel dynamic and wants to emulate his style, not eschewing what originally made her so engaging. So unless pushed, I think AJ's positioned exactly how she wants where she doesn't really change that much of her ways to be booed or cheered. She just hasn't given much reason for the latter.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2014 22:41:10 GMT -5
AJ was totally in her right to defend herself against Brie. If somebody slaps you, of course you are gonna fight back. THAT BEING SAID, AJ is still a bitch and I will boo her every chance I have because I'm a heel MEGAFACE like that.
|
|
tenshi
Patti Mayonnaise
Probably more memorable than a Charlotte title reign
Posts: 34,221
|
Post by tenshi on Nov 4, 2014 23:47:28 GMT -5
Is there a reason why people should like AJ at this moment, kayfabe wise? Just because she's not a bimbo, was a wrestling fan growing up and has quirky traits doesn't take away from the fact that she acts like a bitch to everyone in the division and commentators are going their way into giving her the reason no matter how contrived it can sound. Has AJ changed anything about her since before Wrestlemania besides her opponents? Because I don't think she has. People who liked her then like her now but trying to get people to cheer her after establishing her as a self-centered bitch with an anthropomorphic relationship with the title belt is going to be tough if there aren't changes in how she portraits her character. AJ's a good girl now so cheer her, I guess.
|
|
Abdullah
Hank Scorpio
Thank you, Ishmeal Loves Bayley!
Posts: 6,421
|
Post by Abdullah on Nov 5, 2014 7:21:16 GMT -5
I like how on the rare occasion that a character is allowed to retain their traits upon a face turn, it breaks people's brains.
In any case, Smackdown should clear this up. Oddly enough.
|
|
|
Post by Saiyanic Panic on Nov 5, 2014 11:50:01 GMT -5
It's all relative, different strokes for different folks. I like how an AJ that's a few degrees above detestable is asking for the moon and all the stars. Did anyone think to check the manual? I'm guessing there's a setting between "absolute douche-nozzle" and "total betrayal of her character" somewhere. Maybe on Smackdown a happy medium can be found?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2014 12:09:30 GMT -5
All I know is that face AJ is some seriously boring shit. For the most part I liked AJ in the past.
You know how we'll often say "They should turn x heel face but have them do the same stuff that got them over as a heel, just directed at heels?"
They're doing that the worst possible way here, having her stay a heel but completely muting said heel character. It isn't even being replaced with anything, it's more like "Be like you were before, but really suck at it this time."
|
|
Abdullah
Hank Scorpio
Thank you, Ishmeal Loves Bayley!
Posts: 6,421
|
Post by Abdullah on Nov 5, 2014 12:13:34 GMT -5
It's all relative, different strokes for different folks. I like how an AJ that's a few degrees above detestable is asking for the moon and all the stars. Did anyone think to check the manual? I'm guessing there's a setting between "absolute douche-nozzle" and "total betrayal of her character" somewhere. Maybe on Smackdown a happy medium can be found? It will be. I'm actually pleasantly surprised that they bothered to address it at all. I actually think they should make AJ more of an underdog but it is what it is. This is in fact what it looks like when a heel turns face and only changes opponents. All I know is that face AJ is some seriously boring shit. For the most part I liked AJ in the past. You know how we'll often say "They should turn x heel face but have them do the same stuff that got them over as a heel, just directed at heels?" They're doing that the worst possible way here, having her stay a heel but completely muting said heel character. It isn't even being replaced with anything, it's more like "Be like you were before, but really suck at it this time." Pretty much this too.
|
|