AJ Styles + Nature Boy Ric Flair

[Montana]

What does everyone think of this duo?? Maybe it's all the wrestling i've watched, but something tells me there is a bigger storyline coming out of this. AJ Styles as the next nature boy?? I don't see it. Something tells me it's a swerve to screw AJ Styles out of the and for Ric Flair to assit the "real" next nature boy Ric Flair.

Thoughts on AJ Styles/Ric Flair??

 

[The Rated R CMStar]

It's a sad way to try to put AJ Styles over as the mega heel of the company. Personally I don't like it, and while what you propose sounds better, it would still mean AJ once again flip flopping between heel/face in the span of a year if not less.

 

[Beer]

I seriously see AJ turning face again. He sucks at heel. His part of the opening promo last iMPACT was atrocious.

 

[-TJ-]

This might be a set up for Flair vs. Sting... That's the only reason. And it also gives Styles the chance to be a heel, if he turns his in ring work to mimic Flair, but also keep the new gen offense of explosiveness. That's the only way it can work in my mind.

 

[Millzy Pt. 2]

Something tells me it's a swerve to screw AJ Styles out of the and for Ric Flair to assit the "real" next nature boy Ric Flair.

For some reason after I read this, Desmond Wolfe quickly came to my mind.

Ric Flair screwing AJ out of the title for Desmond Wolfe to win it? Seems interesting to me....

 

[He who knows more than Nation]

This might be a set up for Flair vs. Sting... That's the only reason. And it also gives Styles the chance to be a heel, if he turns his in ring work to mimic Flair, but also keep the new gen offense of explosiveness. That's the only way it can work in my mind.

How could this setup Sting and Flair? Sting's been in the rafters because Flair showed up? Because he sided with AJ? That makes no sense to me and what the hell would AJ have to do with it? I don't get your reasoning, please elaborate.

Like I said in the other thread, they took a simple, tried and true premise and bastardized it. The swerve idea is very plausible but the next "Nature Boy" is a bad idea all of it's own. Why the hell does TNA keep trying to live in the past while they insist they are modern and fresh? That's besides the point, but if it was Wolfe, then he'd have to turn face to set up the program, then turn heel again and thus making AJ face again. Too many turns in a short period of time, too confusing. Plus if they do go that route, I just don't see anyone worthy or charismatic enough to carry that mantle.

 

[Axis]

This should have been done with somebody who wasn't already in a perfect position. Alex Shelley bleaching his hair and parading around as the NEW NATURE BOY~ would have been epic. And he could have turned on Chris Sabin and only referred to him as Magnum TA.

 

[noumenon]

I think we summed this up pretty well in the other thread. It's just really awkward that they would choose to experiment with the guy who should be the poster boy of their company at such a vital time. Aligning him with Ric is in no way a bad move, they're just tweaking his character a bit too far.
As I said somewhere else... just have AJ come out with the hood on, and have Ric become his complete mouthpiece. Talk up how phenomenal he is and how he is now the greatest wrestler in the world and he refuses to face anyone below him, and everyone..yada yada.

I also like the swerve idea, but it would honestly just come off having AJ look pretty damn gullible for falling for something so extreme.

 

[LKP]

Well i read aj might dye his hair blonde like the nature boy Ric flairs. Now that will be a disaster.

 

[Nation]

If Styles really does try to imitate Flair then this will not end up well. That and AJ Styles is pretty much just meant to be a face.

 

[Rated RJC]

First of all with this storyline I do kind of give them a pass as far as me seeing this as Hogan/Bischoff's first real change to a storyline already going. What I mean is this is just Hogan/Bischoff's tweak to the current main event scene and the quickish heel turn was the beginning of what they want to do.

I like the idea of this storyline but I don't know if doing it with AJ Styles, the man in TNA was really the smartest way to do it. I do love the idea of it being a swerve to crown the 'New Nature Boy' as long as it's somebody worthy and when it comes to that I have no suggestions.

The bad thing is AJ hasn't been drawing heat since this happened and a downfall to his in ring style is it makes him likeable which is why the X-Division's (And most of TNA) heel/face dynamic is shot. It's not booking confusing heels and faces, it's the high flying style of many TNA wrestlers.

AJ is going to need to come out and just shred the Impact Zone, really tear them a new asshole if they want this to work.

Overall thought I do like the fact that there is some substance now to AJ's character and Angle is coming off as a SCSA type rebel character which I like. We'll see how this storyline progresses.

 

[Quintastic One]

I still think this can work. I'm not going to complain fundamentally about this right now because this swerve helps AJ retain the title for even longer. He's held it for about 4 months now, and as long as they keep up this heel turn as champion he could still have that belt for another 2-3 months. That's a half a year title reign, and I would have no problems whatsoever with giving AJ that long of a title reign. He deserves it for everything he's done for TNA.

But if this is just a vehicle for AJ Styles Vs. Sting at Bound For Glory where Sting 'teaches AJ a lesson" and beats him for the title, I might be officially sick. lol.

 

[JurassicBonez]

I think the idea of it is pretty cool, but don't like the person who they choose to do it with. AJ? Really? Why not one of the younger guys who could really use the rub? Eric Young would have been the top guy on my list. If they really want to solidify him and make people forget about his joke career. I understand they want to make Styes a house hold name and Flair could be the guy to help him get to that point, but still I woulda choose someone else. Eric Young, one of the Guns, Daniels, hell, even Kaz. I'm not saying that these guys should be world champ, but pairing them with Flair could bring them to that point where they get credible to it.

How could this setup Sting and Flair? Sting's been in the rafters because Flair showed up? Because he sided with AJ? That makes no sense to me and what the hell would AJ have to do with it? I don't get your reasoning, please elaborate.

.

That actually makes since when you think about it. Sting pretty much passed the torch so to speak to AJ. He respected him, let him run with the ball. AJ pretty much spat in his face disrespecting Kurt not shaking his hand, using heel tactics to beat Kurt at the ppv, and then taking part in the screw-job. And this is all because of Flair. Flair's playing the big part in it and pulling the strings so Sting vs Flair doesn't seem out of the question.

 

[C4]

This storyline that they're trying to develop is absolutely pathetic in my opinion. Firstly, AJ Styles doesn't have the 'heel charisma' inside him. For some odd reason the character just doesn't suit AJ. You know when he was getting all hyper and shit like Flair, he looked so pathetic, AJ can't even act like a badass.

And lastly, AJ Styles has been in TNA for over eight years and he is one of the TNA originals, like he himself said in the segment so why have him borrow somebody elses character?

AJ should just be himself imo.

 

[LadyHotrod]

I honestly think it's ridiculous. AJ has this new persona and he is just trying WAY too hard. His acting was dreadful and he suddenly thinks he's a pimp.

He makes a HORRIBLE heel. It's not believable for one second.

Old AJ Styles, plz.