AJ Styles as a heel--Good or Bad for TNA?

[Dr. Stinger A. Zoidberg]

So as we all saw tonight at Genesis(If you watched it) AJ Styles retained his world heavyweight championship after interference from Flair, and then hitting Angle with the title belt for the win. After the match, AJ got on the mic and said, "It's all about Me, and Ric Flair!" So based on all of this, it seems that AJ is turning heel. The question is, Is turning heel good or bad for TNA?

Lets take a look at the top talent heels in TNA right now:
Lashley
Daniels
Wolfe
Hernandez
Morgan
Nash
Hall
Waltman
Tomko
Now AJ

Now, lets take a look at the top talent faces:
Abyss
Dinero
Angle
Sting
Joe

So as you can see, there are more top talent heels in TNA right now compared to that faces. I feel that turning AJ heel is NOT good for TNA. This guy is one of the most over guys on the planet, and one of the best wrestlers on the planet. So, Why does turning him heel make sense? Turning AJ heel is going to set up a lot of Heel vs. Heel matches, which I believe does not make for a good product. Who else could TNA push as a major face? Shark Boy? Pshh I wish. Also, another disadvantage is more of the 'less talented' superstars are on the face side. Now theyre all good wrestlers. But, The heel side is a lot better.

So to sum it all up, Making AJ Styles heel is definitely not a good idea for TNA. With Hogan and Bischoff coming off as Heels, I dont see the point in making both Flair and Styles heels as well. But, I guess only time will tell.

 

[cfcdan]

Morgan and Hernandez are faces, and I think you can add Beer Money to that list of top line faces

BUT

I def. see where you are coming from. One on one wise (especially considering Angle is not geeting another sho at Style) its hard to see where they go with the title from here

Anderson may get an early push, altho I expect him to be heel before too long, he's too cocky and arrogant to be face

I was like "why turn your top guy heel" earlier but now Im starting to think, well its got us thinking "what next" so we're going to tune in to see

Joe has the briefcase so he'll get a title shot soon, but Joe vs Styles AGAIN may get old quickly

I think they need to push Sabin again like the old X Division days

They're trying to make Morley a top line face too unfortunately

 

[I_Like_All_Wrestling]

Personally I think that Styles as a heel is horrible. I think of out the reasons though that it didn't work the last time was because he was being portrayed as a "silly" heel. If you put AJ in the ring with Flair as a mouthpiece, and you REALLY get AJ doing heelish thats like cheating, attacking opponents, and I think this one is important, bloodying them bad, I think it could work.

The problem, like I've always said, is AJs southern accent. It's easier to get over as a face than it is as a heel, so if you can't really talk, there are other things you can do. To be a true great heel though I fully believe you need to be able to cut heel promos...which Flair can do. If Flair is the mouthpiece, then this could work.

I'd really like to see some sort of "four horsemen" (which they can't use in name obviously) heel stable, maybe have Hernandez turn on Morgan, and add someone else.

 

[BradXXX]

I'm really excited about AJ turning heel. That's actually one of my favorite parts of Genesis.

AJ has been playing the most boring, vanilla, disgusting face character for way too long. I'm excited to finally see some kind of personality.

He may be one of the best wrestlers in the world, but FINALLY he might have a personality.

 

[Evenflow DDT]

Im glad TNA and AJ are going in this direction. AJ's last heel turn in '07 was horrible. i was hoping he would be more like he was in '03. Reminded me of a young HBK, but in '07 he was nothing but a dumb redneck lacky. I get the feeling Flair is gonna play a similar role to the one he played in WWE with HHH. Maybe even a new faction much like the horsemen or evolution. I'd like to see AJ (Flair) hook up with Beer Money (Arn & Tully) and maybe Wolfe (Windham) or Morgan (Lugar) with Flair in the Ole/J.J role only wrestling team matches.

 

[Hulkamaniac]

Well, Morgan and Hernandez are clearly faces, not heels. Calling Waltman and Hall "top talent heels" is padding your argument, and the same can probably be said for nash, who I doubt will be fighting for a major title anytime soon, excepting for hte possibility of the tag title. Then, we're also going to have Foley, and figuring out where he is. AJ as heel makes the most sense, by far. I think you're complaining because you are looking for something to complain about.

 

[Toroc102]

I think its actually harder to be a face in the world today, but AJ Styles pulls it off.

Altogether, I think this is a bad idea. AJ Styles is to TNA as Sting was to WcW, you could consider him "The Frnchise" and he most likely will still get giant face pops. Also to make him heel would be to change his wrestling style, which would diminish his whole appeal as a star. ALSO, I doubt pairing him with Flair is going to make it any easier to turn him heel, like basically their going to have to go with mocking the fans consistently in order for this to work, I think.

Anyhow, I think TNA does face/heel turns way to often anyway, one of the ADD problems I've had with TNA in the past.

 

[DarkAngel]

Brilliant. Funny and a coincidence, I was talking to my brother tonight about the idea of A.J turning heel and that I thought he'd be far better off as a heel judging by his punk appearance and his smug promo skills. Being a heel, he doesn't have to connect with the audience as much and this will help his promo's and shoot interviews sky rocket. This is a great opportunity for A.J/ When the heel turn was made I clapped because this opens many things up.

I could see a storyline between Flair/A.J/ and Sting. Sting is emotionally connected to Flair, and he tried to take A.J under his wing, something Flair did with the Stinger. Obviously Flair's influence is a bad one, something we've seen last week on iMPACT, and I think Sting can fit WELL into this mix since he "talked" and "physicked" A.J out of early retirement and put him over and did what was best for A.J as the face of the company, so look for Sting to not sit back on this one. Could be interesting.

 

[FromTheSouth]

AJ Styles as a heel is a terrible decision. I hope that they keep him in a tweener status before making him full face again.

AJ is the heart and soul of that company. He is their guy. He represents TNA.

Now, AJ has been a heel before, and did very well. The problem is that he was a weak heel, cowering behind Kurt Angle. As a stronger leading heel, I don't know if that is AJ's game.

 

[JJYanks121]

It's a terrible idea and it's not really debateable. Every company needs a marketable face. With his good old boy accent and boyish looks, AJ is the perfect guy for that role in TNA. Turning him heel negates any marketability for him. Plus, he's one of the only talents to get a true face pop on his own. Turning him heel takes away one character the crowd actually seems invested in. On top of that, him working heel limits what he can do in the ring which is terrible because he can do an awful lot. So either he's going to work the same and ignore the fact that he's a heel which is dumb, or he's going to limit his moves to work heel and that sucks too because the fans deserve to see him work his best style. Either way, it adds to my argument that it's pulling a swerve for the sake of pulling a swerve and in the long run, it's not good for business.

 

[blogtvpunk]

You guys seem to be forgetting that AJ was a GREAT heel when he was going against Rhino... he had character even as he was more serious.

 

[Schizophrenic]

People seem to forget that when AJ first started in TNA he was a heel. Grantit that was after he won the X belt but he then attacked Jerry Lynn and became a heel and wa a damn good one at that. He had a mouthpiece called Mortimer Plumtree and he has a better moutpiece in Ric Flair. It worked then, why wouldn't it work now?

 

[Chicago1989]

Well with AJ Styles seemingly turning heel, I only got 2 words: Jeff Hardy.

Jeff Hardy Vs. AJ Styles in a feud for the title would be BIG. You already know how over both of them are. And with Ric Flair on AJ's side, sky's the limit for AJ. You got one of the greatest heels of all time as the mouthpiece and the greatest wrestler in the world today together...that's interesting.

I would like to see Jeff Hardy and AJ Styles go at it. That feud should bring alot of eyeballs to the screen.

 

[MikeKillam]

They can go in whatever direction that want with Mr. Anderson. He's already over and can work with the best. He's had no real mic or ring time outside of Genesis, so they could really do whatever they want with him. If they were smart, they would turn him face as well.

And lets' no forget our favorite drug addict. We know they aren't going to push him to the top just yet (or apparently even use him) because of his trial coming up, but Jeff Hardy is one of the most over guys in the business. Put him in the main event at Against All Odds, and I guarantee you'll sell out the building. Seriously, they don't even have to give him the title. Make him lose, and it's still safe. Jeff Hardy will be the most over face in seconds flat, so there's always that.

It's been reported that the wave of new talent coming in the door from WWE and past WCW and other sources as well isn't done yet. Hogan just said in an IGN interview that the issue isn't finding new talent. He said that even the guys from WWE have been calling him all month long, and his phone has been off the hook. You never know who's going to come in next and what role they'll play. THey could get RVD or Booker T. back and instantly have a face to challenge him.

Turning AJ Styles heel made sense, because it gave Ric Flair something to do. The guy is the best promoter ever, and as the voice of AJ Styles, you just can't lose. Right now in TNA there are a lot of heels. Yes. Some of them are innadvertant. Hulk wants to get people over as faces, like himself, but he gets boo'd for things like the 4 sided ring. Just give it some time to calm down, let the nostalgia wear off and then it'll get to some good feuds. I think the biggest thing is Hulk Hogan and Eric Bishoff... They come off as heels because they come in, kick out super-over Jarrett and Foley, and make the Band, who everbody hates, do their dirty work. But they want to be faces by saying bad things about the WWE. They force Jeff Jarett to be a heel saying it's all about him, and nobody believed it. We knew it was Hulk making it all up and Jarrett really doesn't feel that way. They have to make us believe it. Eric Bishoff will never be a face. He's a jackass and that's the role he's supposed to play. And Hogan can jump on that bandwagon, and I think they could be more successful in that. The problem is how to deal with Mick Foley... He's not a heel, and they jumped him like he's supposed to be one. TNA needs to start making sense, and Hogan needs to realize that the fans will only like him if he plays a character that makes sense to like. Jarrett isn't a jackass, and Hogan is a greedy, self-absorbed tool... And they are trying to convince us that it's the opposite? Get real TNA... cross the line.

 

[DR.Dopenhagen]

wait i thought jarett was the face in that confrotation storyline or not ill always take jeffs word before hogan and hogans lackeys jumping foley that certainly looked like a heel move to me how could anyone dislike foley hogan needs to admit hes a natural at being an ******** and become the biggest out of ring heel cuz now hogans "the higher power". gee they really are trying to resurrect as many old storylines as possible arent they

 

[Lancer]

I really can't see the logic behind turning AJ heel. Granted, he is an awesome talent that will no doubt excel at whatever creative direction he is given. But, like others have mentioned, the face / heel ratio in TNA was lopsided to begin with. Now, it's tilting towards chaos unless they somehow ratify it.

Angle is out of the picture for 2010 (until they forget that fact later down the road), Daniels is heel, Joe is MIA. The Pope is probably going to feud with Orlando Jordan. Wolfe is heel. Lashley is heel. The "Band" is heel. I could go on and on here.

The only exception to the rule is Jeff Hardy. A Hardy / AJ feud would make for some exciting action, no doubt. But, Jeff has his personal issues to deal with, and I'm not too certain TNA would pull the trigger on him just yet. Although, they took chances with Hall and Waltman despite their questionable work histories.

Other than Hardy, I could see Ken Anderson being given a program for the title. Yes, he is over with the crowd and all that. But, if he is given the opportunity, he will have won one match against Abyss (who?) before being catapulted into the main event. But, that hasn't stopped TNA before I guess.

 

[Evenflow DDT]

Can't do AJ/Hardy just yet. Its too early for AJ to drop the belt after his heels turn and you cant have Hardy come in and job out in his first match. I say hold off till May-July. Gives Joe & Sting enough time to go at it with AJ and then you got KOTM where you can add either Anderson, Jarrett, or Even Flair to be added help for AJ (I know what your saying no one wants to see Flair in a ladder match but it is TNA/Russo/Hogan/Uncle Eric and i enjoyed the match he had with Edge a few years ago).

And to be honest with all the issues Hardy has right now its best to see if he gets locked up before getting the push. Hard to get ratings with your champ in the big house. I'd wait til Bound For Glory. A match like that needs a good build up, and that is the biggest show of the year.

 

[Viola Moonlight]

This is very, very interesting considering that AJ Styles was being hailed by everyone within the company that he is the best in the business, with Kurt Angle stepping down from that role slightly for AJ due to his age. You had this huge wave following Styles where Kurt Angle was just there to prove that he was still the best and would do everything and anything to keep that title, and the entire locker room (save for some in the kayfabe region) following AJ.

In this situation, the most logical choice to happen was to make Kurt the heel and come out as the better man, but keeping the title on AJ Styles. But, TNA pulled something out of their hat that WWE would not dare do at this point in time... make their top guy, the face of the company loved by everyone supposedly a heel. At first, I thought about AJ's skills on the mic and it may be a good choice to make him a heel to get him over as a character, but then I saw Ric Flair standing next to him. That's all AJ is going to need.

As for the company of TNA? I don't know man... TNA have got a lot of aspiring talent in the face department such as Matt Morgan, Hernandez, The Pope and if they turn him, Samoa Joe. At the moment, they could easily fill the gap of AJ Styles with the likes of Sting and Angle assuming they both stay around for this whole ride. But there is a much bigger problem at hand, and that is trying to define the lines between Main Eventers, Midcarders, X Division competitors and Tag Team Divisions. If TNA can get them sorted, it will be a lot easier to manage and find out whether turning AJ is a great move for the company other than shock value.

I'm welcoming the change myself because he is a little stale when he gets on the mic and I will embrace it, but I hope it has nothing but positive impact for the company.

 

[Big Nick Dudley]

AJ Styles turning heel could turn out very well for TNA. I agree he was their biggest face, but he isn't a household name yet. As TNA grows and grows, they want their top guys to be as popular as WWE's. I don't think AJ had the character nor the mic skills to be that guy, just yet. In the ring, he might be the best in the business along with Angle and Orton, but on the mic, he is a long ways away. Learning alongside Flair about cutting promos and developing a character is going to go a long, long way for this kid. I also think that if you ever going to turn him heel, now is the time. TNA some some big name faces, like Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy, and now, even Ken Anderson. They can get by, and even thrive I think, with him as their top heel. In all honesty, who was their top heel before Styles? They had no one even close to him skill wise, nor as popular. And when they decide to turn him back to a face, it will be HUGE. I like this move a lot, I think TNA has a good crop of faces to take on Styles for the next year, and then bring him back to being a face, where he will undoubtably the top guy in TNA. Will it work with the fans down at the impact zone? You never know, they are a small crowd and they have a lot of say (booing or cheering wise) over who is face and heel. We'll have to see what happens.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

I wasn't aware TNA had heels. I also wasn't aware that A.J. Styles needed to turn heel, but I suppose as the smaller man in the future match between himself & Hogan he'll have to turn to make it much more believable.

It'd be better if he turned heel because he was sick of how all these new faces have come into TNA and they're taking the spots of all the wrestlers who've worked so hard to get TNA where it is. That'd be default second place in American wrestling, but damn it, TNA are proud of that. Anyway, that would be the logical reason to turn him heel, however he's aligned with Flair, so I guess that's not why he'll turn heel. In fact, why is he turning heel at all, there's no reason for it.

 

[Uncle Sam]

I'm pleased with this for one reason and one reason only - the only thing that's better than AJ Styles is Prince AJ. OK, so I'm not expecting him to actually reprise the Prince AJ gimmick, but I do expect it'll be a similar persona. Heel AJ Styles is pure gold on the mic.

Maybe he'll say "Woo!" a lot now?

 

[Dagger Dias]

I don't like the idea of TNA turning Styles heel. I think it would be bad for the federation because Styles is their top guy and the face of their organization. In some ways, he is the Cena of TNA. I wouldn't mind seeing him as a tweener for a while though, having tweeners on top is always interesting. I hope that they have him be a tweener for a bit then have him go back to being face. Perhaps it has to do with a Flair storyline? My biggest question is.... who would be the top face if Styles does turn heel? Angle? Sting? Someone new would need to step up as the top face. Styles is their best option for a top face and it would be a terrible decision for him to fully turn heel right now because there is no one that I can think of who would be able to replace him in the top face spot.

 

[C.Msupporter]

I personally don't like AJ as a heel, sure he's good at it but it dosen't suit him.
When TNA returned to Aus in 2008 Aj was then a heel and i thought''This don't work for me, I hope AJ soon turns face" Thankfully he did and I thought that made TNA better but in a Company overrun by Heels I just don't like it. Thats another reason I also didn't like the Main Event Mafia and World Elite

Hopefully this Heel turn dosen't work out and he stays Face.

 

[JamesLeandros]

Doesn't matter if he is heel or not. I'm not a big AJ fan to begin with, so Kurt can go ahead and tear Styles and Flair apart limb from limb for all I care. heck even as a heel, kurt was awesome to watch. Look for Sting to cut a promo on the upcoming impact, since his boy let him down...how sad. hahaha

 

[Harrison101]

Well, one thing's almost certain - This was a ballsy move by TNA, and it's done exactly Dixie Carter wants: It's getting people talking, it's getting some excited as to what's happening next, and this intrigue will last all the way to next Thursday's iMPACT to see where everyone's going to stand.

Turning your Golden Boy heel is risky in my opinion, at first I thought 'What were they thinking', now I'm not so sure. With Ric Flair as a possible mouthpiece, he's got unlimited potential from one of the biggest names in the business, that's surely a plus.

However, the last time Styles was a heel, I really didn't like it, hence my scepticism for this stint as a hell. As I said above, Thursday's iMPACT will be very interesting.