AJ Styles

[Grimmas]

Discuss here.

[goodhelmet]

I think I would put AJ in my Top 750.

[Dylan Waco]

What is so bad about AJ Will? I'm not a huge fan generally but he's got a WOTY case this year, and was one of the few guys who did anything of nite in TNA. What makes your boy Jericho better than him?

[rovert]

What is so bad about AJ Will? I'm not a huge fan generally but he's got a WOTY case this year, and was one of the few guys who did anything of nite in TNA. What makes your boy Jericho better than him?

 

Especially when this has been a legacy year of him.

[Shining Wiz]

I was never a fan of AJ, but his New Japan matches make me considerably more amenable to going back and checking out some of his TNA stuff.

[stomperspc]

Styles might be one of those guys who is ultimately done in by his career path/career choices. While I agree with Dylan that he is one of the few (or perhaps only??) wrestlers who made something of themselves in TNA, spending such a long portion of his career with that promotion was still ultimately a detriment. Based off of his early ROH work and post-TNA US indie/New Japan work, you don't have to squint too hard to see A.J. having a Top 100 worthy career had he stayed on the indies/ROH longer, went to Japan sooner, or ended up in WWE at some point. As it is, there might not be enough to get him there but he certainly had/has the tools.

 

The Paul London June 2003 ROH match and the Jimmy Rave 2005 ROH matches are all really good matches and not in a "flashy move showcase" sort of way that I think many tend to think when they think of Styles. He has been nothing short of good this year on both the indies and in Japan.

[Childs]

Styles might be one of those guys who is ultimately done in by his career path/career choices. While I agree with Dylan that he is one of the few (or perhaps only??) wrestlers who made something of themselves in TNA, spending such a long portion of his career with that promotion was still ultimately a detriment. Based off of his early ROH work and post-TNA US indie/New Japan work, you don't have to squint too hard to see A.J. having a Top 100 worthy career had he stayed on the indies/ROH longer, went to Japan sooner, or ended up in WWE at some point. As it is, there might not be enough to get him there but he certainly had/has the tools.

 

The Paul London June 2003 ROH match and the Jimmy Rave 2005 ROH matches are all really good matches and not in a "flashy move showcase" sort of way that I think many tend to think when they think of Styles. He has been nothing short of good this year on both the indies and in Japan.

 

Agree with all of this. For a guy who did nothing I cared about for the better part of a decade, AJ still brings a fair number of top-100 elements to the table. I don't expect to vote for him, but if his 2015 is as good as his 2014, it'd make me think. Ultimately though, I can't give him credit for what he could've been in all those wasted years.

[W2BTD]

AJ Styles is a tremendous pro wrestler. Tons of great stuff in ROH, TNA, and now New Japan. A great athlete with amazing body control, and because he's flashy (which is sort of a death knoll around here as that does not appeal to some), he doesn't get enough credit for his excellent match structures & psychology. Maybe the most interesting to watch U.S. based wrestler of his era, even if he isn't the best. Top 25/50 material.

[Grimmas]

AJ Styles is a tremendous pro wrestler. Tons of great stuff in ROH, TNA, and now New Japan. A great athlete with amazing body control, and because he's flashy (which is sort of a death knoll around here as that does not appeal to some), he doesn't get enough credit for his excellent match structures & psychology. Maybe the most interesting to watch U.S. based wrestler of his era, even if he isn't the best. Top 25/50 material.

I'm glad you will be voting to balance out some of the more flashy guys.

 

Although I could see AJ making my list, especially if he continues on this path for another year and a half and if his TNA stuff has some gems.

[BigBadMick]

His TNA stuff has stacks of gems.

[soup23]

Do I have to revisit styles tna?

[BigBadMick]

Ah, the anti-TNA bias are back! The conversation about their better stuff starts up around here....

 

http://prowrestlingonly.com/index.php?/topic/4730-is-tna-the-worst-wrestling-promotion-in-history/page-35

[BigBadMick]

....and here's a bit of both...

 

http://prowrestlingonly.com/index.php?/topic/27900-tnas-highs-and-lows/

[W2BTD]

Do I have to revisit styles tna?

 

Just ignore everything he did when they were booking him as a half wit southern bumpkin.

[Shining Wiz]

 

Do I have to revisit styles tna?

 

Just ignore everything he did when they were booking him as a half wit southern bumpkin.

That should make for a short reviewing list then.

[Matt D]

You'd think that would be his most natural work.

 

I think I was at that London match. Is that the one with the SSP on the arm? If so, 20 year old me went nuts for that.

[Venegas]

I think what's most impressive about AJ Styles is that he basically has two careers. From debut-06/07ish he was the poster boy for North American junior heavyweights and garnered a big fan base because of it, although I can see that portion of his career drawing polarizing opinions, but now he's pretty much a very smart mat based worker with junior elements sprinkled in and is universally receiving best in the world praise. I need to go back and re-watch most of his TNA work but this year he's no worse than a top 3 wrestler in the world, with only Timothy Thatcher and Cesaro giving him a run for his money.

[Goodear]

I've watched some of the most recent New Japan stuff and I just don't get the feeling that he presents himself like a main event big deal even now. There is just a combination of stuff going on there that doesn't make me think of him as a big deal even now carrying a major title around. I don't know if its the hair, the gloves or the weird way he executes things like a knee drop but something is refusing to click for me. He's a heck of a talent and a good wrestler but that disconnect is what keeps him off a list of elites for me.

[WingedEagle]

I always thought AJ was fine in TNA other than being tainted with the same stink that's afflicted just about everyone there over the years. He had a knack for mixing in flying and athleticism without letting it dominate his game. After his introduction in NJ and insertion in the title picture I was pretty skeptical having enjoyed the Tanahashi/Okada focus over the last couple years. But he's fit in there without any problem at all, was the MVP of the G1 in my eyes and as already noted put himself on the short list for wrestler of the year. I don't know that he'd make my list absent another year or 2 like this one, but I'm now at least happy to look back at some TNA and ROH to see what case can be made for him.

[W2BTD]

If you can find it, Austin Aries & Roderick Strong vs Styles & Matt Sydal from 2/25/06 in Edison NJ for ROH was the best tag team match I've ever seen live.

[Timbo Slice]

The one thing I will say is that being a WOTY candidate in any year, or a Top 3-5 candidate, puts you in the conversation with the Top 100-200 guys over a 40-50 year period. As good as he's been this year, and there have been flashes of greatness in previous years, there's just not enough. He's had a lot of bright spots, especially in a crap promotion, but I don't think he has enough.

[Superstar Sleeze]

If you are not considering AJ for your top 100, you are the one missing out on a great wrestler. He is a mortal lock for my top 100 and have only seen two of his 2014 matches (one was live, which is always bitchin).

 

In an era of faceless X-Division wrestlers, AJ Styles stood out because he was so well-rounded. AJ throws a punch way better than those lame gymnast poseurs. He can go on the mat and take to the air. His commitment to selling means that moves have consequence and from that consequence comes smart transitions.

 

Here is a bunch of AJ matches I reviewed: http://prowrestlingonly.com/index.php?/topic/19786-aj-styles/?hl=styles

 

If you think AJ is one year wonder, watch these matches:

 

vs Abyss - Lockdown 2005 - Great, bloody little man vs big man steel cage match

 

vs Samoa Joe - Turning Point 2005 - Incredible match. Styles sells the beating and exhaustion so well and makes everything mean so much

 

Against All Odds 2006 Triple Threat against Daniels and Samoa Joe is the Triple Threat to watch in my opinion not the more famous Unbreakable one. Joe is such a force so Styles and Daniels know they can't beat him so they try to beat each other. It is a really smart spotfest

w/Daniels vs AMW - Slammiversary 2006 - Perfect meddling of X-Divison and Southern Style Tag wrestling

 

The LAX feud was a great angle, but did not produce any great matches from when I rewatched them, but I didn't get to see the Impact Street Fight, which I remember liking a lot.

 

Again the Angle feud was a great angle, but Kurt Angle flat out refused to wrestle the matches violently and just killed it dead.

2009 Triple Threat was absolutely amazing and also must-see. AJ is given the keys to the kingdom and rocks it. He wrestles two different strategies to overcome Daniels and Joe. He is so adaptable. Watch this.

 

His 2005 matches are probably better, but I loved his 2009 match against Daniels

 

TNA World Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles vs Christopher Daniels - Final Resolution 2009 Daniel puts in a career performance and AJ puts on a performance that is on par with his best. This match is worked so much differently than most TNA matches as they let spots breathe, use strikes effectively to set up spots and has psychology. I was really floored how friggin good this match was. The story is how AJ would overcome Daniels' combination of ruthlessness and familiarity with his moves. Daniels takes advantage of two early rope breaks to take cheap shots at Styles. He also is able to counter an AJ kip up by sitting down on an armbar and pick an ankle on a criss-cross spot because he knows AJ just that well. They really work the mat effectively I wish they would work this way more often. When AJ does take control because Daniels gets cocky he really lets the fists let and talks some trash to Daniels. Hate in a TNA match??? Whaaaaaattttttt? When Daniels regains control, he sets up AJ to get smacked with a chair and as the ref discards that chair he Rock Bottoms AJ through an chair. This sets up the back psychology and a really fuckin good heat segment. AJ gets a hope spot and goes up top to capitalize, but Daniels wails on his back. Then Daniels manages to hoist AJ up and basically do a backbreaker but use the top turnbuckle as his knee. If you are going to do innovative spots, then at least make them violet and that fit in perfectly. AJ re-establishes control by hitting a nasty powerbomb on Daniels onto the floor when Daniels tries to hit a huricanrana. AJ follows up with more strikes and trash talk. This does not feel like a TNA match at all and the TNA crowd does not how to react. Daniels uses AJ's own momentum against him crotches him on the ropes. Now Daniels is using some wicked open hand palm strikes. They fuck up a super Franeknsteiner. They fight over a suplex and AJ hits a wicked brainbuster. They struggle over Styles Clash; AJ kicks him the back and Daniels with open hand strikes. Daniels rakes the eyes to set up BME. AJ gets a catapult and then follows up with a Styles Clash kickout. AJ gets set up on top ropes; Daniels hits a big palm strike; goes for another super Frankensteiner this time he eats a super Styles Clash. This match unlike most TNA matches actually followed the story of the angle. It was two wrestlers pissed off at each other trying to prove they were better than the other. Daniels was great at heeling it up and he left most of the goofy moves at the door. He was out to use his guile and experience to best AJ. He started off really working the arm well before zeroing in on the back with ferocity rarely seen in TNA. AJ is such a great babyface at both selling and those fiery comebacks. His punches were really on point and he too did not work all his usual offensive spots and instead focusing on executing moves that fit the match and would finish his opponent. I liked the finish a lot because it combined smart escalation (Top Rope Styles Clash) with Daniels going to the well once too often (2nd attempt at Super Frankensteiner).

[Matt D]

Styles is very high on the list of wrestlers I don't want to actually give a fair shake but that I will anyway for the sake of this.

[BillThompson]

I need to see a lot more from AJ. I liked him well enough in TNA, but a lot of the time I felt he downgraded himself, if that makes any sense. He's shown that he has top flight skills, but in TNA he would defer to his more spotty tendencies. I haven't seen much of his non-TNA work though.

[Lee Casebolt]

I was never high on Styles, but his post-TNA work is a million times better than anything he did in TNA. It's the best available evidence for the idea that what people do in TNA should not be held against them.