http://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2016/1/4/10712392/njpw-bullet-club-aj-styles-shinsuke-nakamura-wwe-signing-notice-new-japan If true holy shit NXT is going to blow up even more than it did this past year and Styles in a WWE ring(well hopefully) would be as surreal as seeing Sting in the WWE. AJ is 38 years old so I wouldn't waste time and just have him on the main roster right away as he would fit seamlessly in the Daniel Bryan role, but I imagine he'll spend a good while in NXT. Boy an invasion by the Bullet Club on Smackdown would get people talking but that ain't happening, but it is an exciting time and I expect these guys to be booked perfectly on NXT, it is if or when they debut on Raw or Smackdown will be interesting.
It's pretty exciting if this is what is actually going down, and the NXT game has definitely changed because I can't imagine that these guys came cheaply. Is it now possible to make really good money without being brought up to the main roster? How will long time mid level guys feel about NXT guys possibly out earning them? A move this bold probably changes things across the board for a lot people and a lot of companies.
... and yet James Storm is headed back to TNA. Must have misheard the "YOU BELONG HERE" chants.
Originally posted by graves9http://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2016/1/4/10712392/njpw-bullet-club-aj-styles-shinsuke-nakamura-wwe-signing-notice-new-japan If true holy shit NXT is going to blow up even more than it did this past year and Styles in a WWE ring(well hopefully) would be as surreal as seeing Sting in the WWE. AJ is 38 years old so I wouldn't waste time and just have him on the main roster right away as he would fit seamlessly in the Daniel Bryan role, but I imagine he'll spend a good while in NXT. Boy an invasion by the Bullet Club on Smackdown would get people talking but that ain't happening, but it is an exciting time and I expect these guys to be booked perfectly on NXT, it is if or when they debut on Raw or Smackdown will be interesting.
You mean the Balor club? I was mad when they copied that shirt in nXt, but now they might have the club.
Side questions, did aj get all his worlds titles tattooed on his side or just the Tna ones? Is the nxt title a world title? Been defended in both Japan and England.
He has tattoos of his kids names and dates of birth not titles. I'm guessing Storm did not like his prospects of getting to the main roster so he went back to TNA. Karl Anderson was supposed to go to TNA before the WWE swooped in. So... Bennett, Maria and storm on TNA's debut on POP TV, not exactly blockbuster stuff.
I don't blame these guys. The money is probably better, they are closer to home, more exposure and possibilities of work after wrestling, but before we go crazy on how they are used, just remember Mistico is no longer with the company. Samoa Joe isn't on the main roster and Alberto Del Rio is just another guy. I HOPE they do something with him. Styles is probably the best worker out there right now, but he's 38 and has a bad back. Plus Gallows already had a cup of coffee there and it didn't go well.
Kevin Kelly: "Mr. Austin, would you like to comment on Wade Keller's Take that endorsing the XFL hurts your anti-authority character?"
Steve Austin: "Oh shit, he actually said that? I thought the boys in the back were ribbing me!"
Kelly: "No, he really said that. Did they tell you the part about you sitting in the stands, looking all skeptical?"
Austin: "AHAHAHAHAHAHA. Yeah... oh man that was too much."
Originally posted by DirtyMikeSeaverbefore we go crazy on how they are used, just remember Mistico is no longer with the company. Samoa Joe isn't on the main roster and Alberto Del Rio is just another guy.
Sorry to be so confrontational, but why the fuck would you ever want Samoa Joe on the main roster? He's been doing great work in NXT, and he'd be "just another guy" on RAW. NXT is a viable brand now, and the sellout in Brooklyn indicates a pretty high ceiling for where the product might eventually land.
Regarding the news itself, I really thought these were just some groundless rumors at first, but these are some pretty solid gets. Nakamura and Anderson are unquestionably going to be top guys in NXT with the potential to work up to RAW. Gallows is a guy who's already had two shots, so I'm not really sure why they want him back, or why he wants to be back (money), and I don't know what exactly he's bringing to the table here that other guys aren't. Also, he's an okay worker, but nothing special in my opinion. So, I guess I don't really like the idea of bringing in Gallows?
Styles is something else. Honestly, I don't like him, and I never really did outside of his run as a comedy heel under Christian. I know that puts me well into the minority here on the board. Also, he's in his late 30's, so he's not got a huge amount of shelf life, although we all know that's not really a big concern for any segment of WWE. They put Sting in two matches. All that said, he's a name with a big following, and that's going to be pretty meaningful for NXT. I don't see much chance of him getting a RAW call-up. They've never been really interested in him for the RAW product, and they've had a couple of shots at him before. They've also got younger guys who can do everything that Styles can do, cheaper. So I see his WWE run beginning and ending in NXT.
Well, the network just started being available in Japan so if they can get Nakamura in as soon as possible (he'd be the last to leave and if they want him to drop his title they'd do it at a bigger show) that would only help business.
I must admit, the concept of the Phenomenal One leading a stable of major Japanese Wrestlers in a quest to take over the WWE would be enough to get me to give RAW/Smackdown another chance. (If RAW were 2 hours.)
Edit: the last concept that sounded this tempting to me was the initial rumors of Deadly Games II and Corporate Champion Ambrose at Survivor Series. Prior to that it was the concept of Danielson v. a resurgent McMahon-Helmsley Regime a few years ago.
Styles is something else. Honestly, I don't like him, and I never really did outside of his run as a comedy heel under Christian. I know that puts me well into the minority here on the board. Also, he's in his late 30's, so he's not got a huge amount of shelf life, although we all know that's not really a big concern for any segment of WWE. They put Sting in two matches. All that said, he's a name with a big following, and that's going to be pretty meaningful for NXT. I don't see much chance of him getting a RAW call-up. They've never been really interested in him for the RAW product, and they've had a couple of shots at him before. They've also got younger guys who can do everything that Styles can do, cheaper. So I see his WWE run beginning and ending in NXT.
(edited by Tenken347 on 4.1.16 2104)
That's the strangest opinion of AJ Styles I think I have ever seen and there is really no way to argue against that. I can only assume that you haven't seen enough of him and that he will win you over.
Sheamus - 39 Cena - 38 Samoa Joe - 36 Nakumura - 36 Ziggler - 35 Balor - 34
While 38 isn't young it isn't super old in wrestling terms either.
Styles is something else. Honestly, I don't like him, and I never really did outside of his run as a comedy heel under Christian. I know that puts me well into the minority here on the board. Also, he's in his late 30's, so he's not got a huge amount of shelf life, although we all know that's not really a big concern for any segment of WWE. They put Sting in two matches. All that said, he's a name with a big following, and that's going to be pretty meaningful for NXT. I don't see much chance of him getting a RAW call-up. They've never been really interested in him for the RAW product, and they've had a couple of shots at him before. They've also got younger guys who can do everything that Styles can do, cheaper. So I see his WWE run beginning and ending in NXT.
(edited by Tenken347 on 4.1.16 2104)
You may be in the minority, but you're not alone.
I'll throw in that his finisher won't work/won't be allowed in WWE, casual fans won't know him, and he doesn't actually exude charisma (at least IMO). (I've tried to like him, it just hasn't stuck.)
But, some like Fords and others like Chevrolet, so good on AJ for getting a good paycheck.
AJ has great baby face fire and yeah the casuals won't know him but the hardcores love him and he's never had an issue getting over and he'll be one of the most over guys on the roster in short order. aJ has gotten much better on the mic and has very few peers from the in ring work and with a three hour show he'd get plenty of ring time to get over.
If Joe can be resurrected as true Samoa Joe by the purifying NXT fires, then I would think Styles would flourish immediately since he's already cleared the TNA cobwebs and been locked in at a high level for the last couple years.
However, Meltzer says the money for Styles and Nakamura blows away even Balor's sweet deal, so they're supposed to be main roster fairly quickly (and Styles was intended as a Rumble surprise). Then again, the identical thing was said about Balor because of his contract and instead he's been used to take NXT on the road.
Speaking of whom, Dave says an actual Balor Club group is likely going to be a thing.
Anderson and Gallows should be allowed to come in and literally kill off the characters of the Dudleys on their debut. Presumably, the Magic Killer will be renamed to the Magic Space Creator, which would somehow even be more of a Japanese wrestling video game-sounding move name.
Styles really is a world class worker and will connect with the crowds...IF AND ONLY IF...they have him make sure his gloves and tights match and aren't a shade off from each other like they often have been but also...IF AND ONLY IF...he's allowed to work the big time matches he's been working. Which presumably he would be allowed to do on NXT specials and presumably he wouldn't be allowed to do very often on the main roster...UNLESS AND ONLY UNLESS...he's going against Cena, and the sequel to the 2015 June Surprise of John Cena Indy Fantasy Camp is the 2016 June Surprise of John Cena Puro Gaijin Company Ace Fantasy Camp, and these signings are for a Bullet Club vs. Cena angle.
Nakamura is the fantasy La Parka: WCW World Champion I built up in my head years ago. He is the fantasy Used Perfectly Dean Ambrose I built up in my head last year. Basically the one "no, seriously, you gotta see this guy" guys who, no, seriously, you gotta see this guy. I would renew my Network subscription right now and pay $20 a month if it included live feeds of all the wrestlers currently under contract trying to explain Rock Star David Lo Pan Gangster Ultimate Fighting Pro Wrestler Space Alien as a gimmick for Vince and HHH to process. Michael Jackson Who Is Also Bill The Butcher Who Is Also 2006-2007 Fighting Arts Master CM Punk, I love it, Maggle!
Styles is something else. Honestly, I don't like him, and I never really did outside of his run as a comedy heel under Christian. I know that puts me well into the minority here on the board. Also, he's in his late 30's, so he's not got a huge amount of shelf life, although we all know that's not really a big concern for any segment of WWE. They put Sting in two matches. All that said, he's a name with a big following, and that's going to be pretty meaningful for NXT. I don't see much chance of him getting a RAW call-up. They've never been really interested in him for the RAW product, and they've had a couple of shots at him before. They've also got younger guys who can do everything that Styles can do, cheaper. So I see his WWE run beginning and ending in NXT.
(edited by Tenken347 on 4.1.16 2104)
That's the strangest opinion of AJ Styles I think I have ever seen and there is really no way to argue against that. I can only assume that you haven't seen enough of him and that he will win you over.
Sheamus - 39 Cena - 38 Samoa Joe - 36 Nakumura - 36 Ziggler - 35 Balor - 34
While 38 isn't young it isn't super old in wrestling terms either.
Huh, a couple of those guys are a lot older than I thought, but you're absolutely right - his age isn't really a big deal. It was just something that jumped out at me in terms of the overall signing. I actually have seen a fair amount of Styles. Like I said, I think he can be pretty funny, but I find his "serious" stuff to be pretty standard. I don't like his ringwork. I think he's too spot-oriented, although maybe some time down in the PC might actually fix that. And I know a lot of people really, really like AJ. I"m not saying he's bad - I'm just saying that I don't like him.
The wheels may be in motion...at last night's show, Kenny Omega pinned Nakamura in a tag match and then led the Bullet Club in turning on A.J. Styles. Styles treated the aftermath like it was a farewell...
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