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Post by LiamMcDuggle on Apr 15, 2024 21:06:05 GMT -5
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.
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Post by BorneAgain on Apr 15, 2024 21:09:07 GMT -5
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.
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Post by ChitownKnight on Apr 15, 2024 21:21:11 GMT -5
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
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Post by schizo on Apr 15, 2024 22:01:15 GMT -5
Yes
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Post by SkullTrauma on Apr 16, 2024 6:38:36 GMT -5
hell no
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Post by Gerard Gerard on Apr 16, 2024 6:44:13 GMT -5
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.
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Post by EoE: Well There's Your Problem on Apr 16, 2024 6:47:59 GMT -5
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.
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Post by welshpenguin on Apr 16, 2024 6:54:54 GMT -5
Sure, especially if we get goofy heel AJ back.
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john84
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Post by john84 on Apr 16, 2024 6:57:57 GMT -5
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.
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Post by chronocross on Apr 16, 2024 6:58:19 GMT -5
Sure I don't mind as I think it's a good first title defense for Cody.
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Futureraven: Beelzebruv
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Post by Futureraven: Beelzebruv on Apr 16, 2024 7:02:48 GMT -5
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.
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Post by Clash, Never a Meter Maid on Apr 16, 2024 7:05:28 GMT -5
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.
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Cvslfc123
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Post by Cvslfc123 on Apr 16, 2024 7:34:51 GMT -5
It does remind me of when Kane was Daniel Bryan's first PPV challenger after WrestleMania 30.
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BRV
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Post by BRV on Apr 16, 2024 9:01:03 GMT -5
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.
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Sparkybob
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Post by Sparkybob on Apr 16, 2024 9:25:59 GMT -5
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.
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Post by froggyfrog on Apr 16, 2024 9:33:44 GMT -5
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
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Post by polarbearpete on Apr 16, 2024 10:04:47 GMT -5
I think Styles and Cody is a worthy PPV main event. It’s a first-time ever match I think, too.
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schma
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Post by schma on Apr 16, 2024 10:32:56 GMT -5
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.
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krozor
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Post by krozor on Apr 16, 2024 12:30:52 GMT -5
Can they do a Phenomenal Forearm into Cody Cutter spot? I will base the success or failure of the program entirely on that.
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dbrussel
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Post by dbrussel on Apr 16, 2024 12:36:55 GMT -5
I mean...he's not Chris Jericho. Guy can put some decent work
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