|
Post by Magic knows Black Lives Matter on Dec 21, 2017 12:52:53 GMT -5
I want to stress that this is NOT a "I don't think AJ is all that good" thread. Trust me, I think AJ is the shit dipped in shit (that's the shit 2x over for those that don't know).
Nah, what I mean is, in an era where so many of WWE's top acts get f***ed up (not intentionally but through incompetence), AJ is like the one guy that's come out unscathed and still comes off like a hot act. ...How? How does he thrive in WWE Land? I've noticed that they've kept his storylines pretty simple so there's no room for ol' dumb shit that kills your character so maybe that's it. Or maybe AJ is just that dude and is that nice that he can survive any kind of booking. Being in TNA does teach you how to do that. Or maybe I'm full of shit and none of this makes sense.
What y'all think?
|
|
|
Post by 2coldMack is even more baffled on Dec 21, 2017 12:54:12 GMT -5
The dude's just teflon. His work speaks for itself, he's got a great look, and he keeps his character simple enough that it's hard to screw up.
|
|
FinalGwen
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Particularly fond of muffins.
Posts: 16,434
|
Post by FinalGwen on Dec 21, 2017 12:56:16 GMT -5
I mean, he's jobbed to James Ellsworth and done spots involving being suspended by his groin on the ropes for prolonged periods, so it's not like he's escaped all 'dumb shit'. But after you've got past Claire Lynch, everything remotely positive is a bonus.
|
|
|
Post by edgestar on Dec 21, 2017 12:56:47 GMT -5
There's a certain "it" factor to him. That's the best way I can describe it. The guy can move better at 40, than I can at 30. You are certainly entitled to have that feeling about AJ, though.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2017 13:08:04 GMT -5
He's amazing at making guys look great while also being amazing at making himself look great. Lemme break it down.
Lets look at the Mahal feud (just look at where I'm going with this). The thing with that feud is that it was the first feud in this company that Jinder actually "got his wrestling" down. By that I mean this, in all his other feuds he wasn't wrestling like he needs to be wrestling. He was using a hybrid of styles just didn't look right. Like you get that Strowman is the big powerhouse, you get that Kofi is athletic and all over the place, you didn't get how Mahal's supposed to wrestle. He was just doing it. You didn't really pinpoint how he was which made his matches even worse. With Styles though, look at their matches. Styles said "ok, you're a big power guy who can attack quick at times and you're gonna dominate the smaller more talented guy like me" and they went with it. You combine that with AJ's selling and Mahal looks better than he ever has because he knows what he is supposed to be now, you get their dynamic. Look at Styles and Reigns. There's a reason why that was one of the best feud's Roman has had. That feud really locked in how Roman continued to evolve. Now look at Styles and Ambrose. Styles is great enough that he allowed Ambrose pull off some new moves and step up his own game and they had amazing matches because of it. Now look at everyone else Styles faces, the same applies across the board. Damn near everybody has a great match with Styles. The only feud this guy's been in that didn't work well was that Owens feud and honestly I'm just going to assume that's based off Owens given that documentary that came out not that long ago. Styles makes guys look great in the ring.
That's only one side of the coin however. It's great to do that but if that was all that mattered then Ziggler would be world champion right now. The thing that separates a Styles and a Ziggler is being entertaining and propelling yourself up to the level that you propel your opponents. Ziggler's biggest issue in the ring is that while he made guys look great, he didn't make himself look great. Styles makes himself look great. His moves look awesome, his moves look damaging, he hits hard, he's fast and he's enough of a force that anyone in the ring with him knows they're in for a fight and that's even from a fan perspective. When we see Styles step between those ropes we know he's that dude. Even during his debut just how he was walking showed he was the real deal. You didn't have to know who he was, you just knew. You don't get that with a Ziggler.
And the guy's entertaining outside of the ring. Whether it's comedy, being serious, promos, he's got it all. Can't say that for most other guys.
Basically AJ Styles is that guy who's great at everything. He's the K. Dot of the WWE right now. Whatever you need him to do, he can do it and that's why he's continued to defy the negativity of the WWE system. They tried to put this guy in the same circumstances as others and he got past it. We can't say that for other people but we can for him.
He's maxed out and for good reason.
|
|
|
Post by This Player Hating Mothman on Dec 21, 2017 13:12:00 GMT -5
You're talking about surviving WWE booking, but this is the dude who survived like it wasn't shit, no damage to his credibility at all. And he got punched out by f***ing Serg in that storyline. Coming out of the actual f*** worst unscathed is the dude's superpower or some shit
|
|
|
Post by Crow Dust on Dec 21, 2017 13:19:45 GMT -5
His standing in a certain community
|
|
JCBaggee
Hank Scorpio
Writer, streamer. I used to write for CBR but then they fired everyone who cared about their writers
Posts: 6,786
|
Post by JCBaggee on Dec 21, 2017 13:26:11 GMT -5
I was actually just thinking about this the other day, if you want proof of how good AJ is it's not in how he wrestles. A few years ago, a lot of people (including forum members here) were pretty down on AJ because of repeated injuries during the Styles Clash. AJ wasn't necessarily at fault; it's a weird bump where you have to throw your head back instead of forward, so it goes against what you're typically taught. But a lot of people didn't even think he would be allowed to do the Clash in WWE, if he should be doing it at all. Styles hit the Clash on Ellsworth, and Ellsworth looked up. He admitted he shouldn't have. But we noticed that AJ had changed up the clash - he was checking for James' position before the impact. Here's AJ Styles saving James Ellsworth's life. He's the best in the business right now, imo.
|
|
|
Post by 1 Free Moon-Down with Burger on Dec 21, 2017 13:56:39 GMT -5
It’s the kind of talent and awareness that you get from wrestling in different promotions in different countries for years.
He gets it in a way that a lot of Indy straight to WWE guys don’t. He’s not a guy pretending to be a good wrestler. He’s not Eli Drake cosplaying promos as The Rock. He’s just AJ Styles. An evolved character that’s been through it and had the presence of a guy that’s done it all and could easily do it one more time.
In digimon terms, AJ is a Mega while others struggle to get outta Champion.
|
|
|
Post by eJm on Dec 21, 2017 14:08:30 GMT -5
It’s the kind of talent and awareness that you get from wrestling in different promotions in different countries for years. He gets it in a way that a lot of Indy straight to WWE guys don’t. He’s not a guy pretending to be a good wrestler. He’s not Eli Drake cosplaying promos as The Rock. He’s just AJ Styles. An evolved character that’s been through it and had the presence of a guy that’s done it all and could easily do it one more time. In digimon terms, AJ is a Mega while others struggle to get outta Champion. It’s helped he’s headlined several promotions in several different kinds of wrestling too. Like, yes, a Tokyo Dome NJPW semi main is different from a ROH main event which is different from a TNA Bound for Glory ME but those all have different expectations to them and he’s had to adjust throughout his career to all of them. He can bring that experience to a WWE ring but also take in knowledge like a sponge of WWE style which, considering he debuted without going to NXT, he got really quickly. The opponents too have helped because there is barely anyone in wrestling, probably no one that can say they’ve faced Cena, Okada and Sting throughout their careers. All three have their own set kind of match type which AJ has made exciting and enthralling to an audience. Dude’s essentially a major student of the game who can work with anyone because he’s pretty much worked WITH everyone in almost every situation.
|
|
|
Post by carp (SPC, Itoh Respect Army) on Dec 21, 2017 14:28:14 GMT -5
A few years ago, I saw him in Chikara's King of Trios. For those that don't know, it's a three-night tournament.
In his first match, he botched his springboard elbow. He recovered, but it was clearly a botch. After the end of the match, he glared at the top rope. But then, in his next match, he developed a phobia about doing the move. He stood on the apron, the opponent in position, and just couldn't bring himself to do it. In the next match, the same thing happened, but he steeled himself and ALMOST did it, but just as he jumped, one of his opponents pulled him down and stopped him. In the last match, he finally, finally did it. It probably got the biggest pop from the crowd of the whole tournament.
Dude just gets narrative and psychology. He can make a storyline out of nothing, and people care.
Also, he can actually PERFORM these stories well. He has the acting ability to make it clear he's afraid or trying to gather up his courage. And, he works well enough with the other wrestlers to work out pre-planned spots that the crowd understands and likes.
|
|
|
Post by BorneAgain on Dec 21, 2017 14:51:07 GMT -5
Another aspect that AJ just gets is carrying himself as a star in all aspects. Not just during entrances or promos, but even during matches the guy always gives off the vibe of being a confident and mastered athlete.
You never look at Styles and see the wheels turning in his head or anxiously thinking about the next spot. He presents as a genuine tenured professional wrestler, not simply an athletic guy doing improv in ring.
|
|
Bo Rida
Fry's dog Seymour
Pulled one over on everyone. Got away with it, this time.
Posts: 23,542
|
Post by Bo Rida on Dec 21, 2017 14:51:38 GMT -5
He's mostly been on Smackdown.
Echoing what others have said, many modern wrestlers feel like they're robotically going through their matches. AJ's matches feel more real as he reacts to his opponent and situations accordingly.
Also his hair.
|
|
|
Post by Slanted and Enchanted on Dec 21, 2017 15:03:27 GMT -5
What makes AJ stand out to me is that he's a true journeyman of professional wrestling. AJ had major buzz back in 2002 when he was the cocky rookie feuding with Jerry Lynn in NWA:TNA. He gradually evolved from rookie heel to up and comer babyface to the face of TNA and eventually the black sheep of TNA before leaving the company. In the meantime he was also tearing it up on the indies. He then had a career resurgence in NJPW as Bullet Club leader and eventually his current run in WWE. But throughout all of that he continuously evolved his look, his moveset, and his overall character. Throughout his career he has faced the likes of Punk, Bryan, Owens, etc while they were still indie guys, while also being involved with major legends like Hogan, Flair, and Sting in TNA. Then we have his legendary battles with NJPW greats like Okada, Naito, Nakamura, and Tanahashi. And he then moves on to the WWE to face off against another batch of legendary guys like Cena and Lesnar. Nobody can ever say that they've faced the array of opponents that AJ has faced.
Also his iconic P1 logo has adorned every major company he's been with and has been a looming symbol in his NJPW, TNA, and WWE title runs. He was never just another guy in a company but rather he was a superstar who decided to grace whatever company with his presence wherever he went. AJ is simply the greatest overall talent of this generation.
|
|
lionheart21
Patti Mayonnaise
Once did a thing...
Posts: 30,544
|
Post by lionheart21 on Dec 21, 2017 15:13:24 GMT -5
A few years ago, I saw him in Chikara's King of Trios. For those that don't know, it's a three-night tournament. In his first match, he botched his springboard elbow. He recovered, but it was clearly a botch. After the end of the match, he glared at the top rope. But then, in his next match, he developed a phobia about doing the move. He stood on the apron, the opponent in position, and just couldn't bring himself to do it. In the next match, the same thing happened, but he steeled himself and ALMOST did it, but just as he jumped, one of his opponents pulled him down and stopped him. In the last match, he finally, finally did it. It probably got the biggest pop from the crowd of the whole tournament. Dude just gets narrative and psychology. He can make a storyline out of nothing, and people care. Also, he can actually PERFORM these stories well. He has the acting ability to make it clear he's afraid or trying to gather up his courage. And, he works well enough with the other wrestlers to work out pre-planned spots that the crowd understands and likes. IIRC, Botchamania did a segment on that in one episode.
|
|
|
Post by YAKMAN is ICHIBAN on Dec 21, 2017 15:14:47 GMT -5
You're talking about surviving WWE booking, but this is the dude who survived (huge picture omitted) like it wasn't shit, no damage to his credibility at all. And he got punched out by f***ing Serg in that storyline. Coming out of the actual f*** worst unscathed is the dude's superpower or some shit HE SMELLS LIKE SMOKE, BECAUSE HE'S BEEN THROUGH A DUMPSTER FIRE, MAGGLE!
|
|
|
Post by eJm on Dec 21, 2017 15:34:55 GMT -5
You're talking about surviving WWE booking, but this is the dude who survived like it wasn't shit, no damage to his credibility at all. And he got punched out by f***ing Serg in that storyline. Coming out of the actual f*** worst unscathed is the dude's superpower or some shit Dude was also punched out by Hulk Hogan so many times, he might as well had changed his name to Ric Flair.
|
|
nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,724
|
Post by nisidhe on Dec 21, 2017 16:24:27 GMT -5
AJ Styles is probably the last throwback to the old Southern wrestling tradition. There may be others in the mix, but I can't identify them readily - the Revival seems to be fave-raves of Cornette's, but they could have just as readily come out of Calgary in terms of heat. He can be thrown into a five-star feud on the flimsiest of pretenses and build himself and his opponents up with great in-ring psychology and intensely passionate promos - when he's given his head on both. He's good in a wide range of match types with a wide range of opponents, and his technical skill seems to come through despite the way WWE limits movesets these days. He's safe as a worker; he's safe as a Face of the Company (little risk of scandal with him, happily married with decent kids, will do as he's told). He's been everywhere and done a lot; he's paid his dues to the business and hasn't yet been broken by it. Those are just a few of the reasons he's considered the best in the business today.
|
|
|
Post by EvenBaldobombHasAJob on Dec 21, 2017 16:30:57 GMT -5
It's the soccer mom hair.
|
|
Sephiroth
Wade Wilson
Surviving
Posts: 28,932
|
Post by Sephiroth on Dec 21, 2017 16:33:43 GMT -5
Flat earth man
|
|