AJ Styles - Mr. TNA is #1 in the 2010 PWI 500

[Jack-Hammer]

I'm not sure that this technically counts as a spoiler as it doesn't apply to any upcoming wrestling tv programs. I was browsing through the net and just thought this was worth noting.

It's being reported that Styles has been ranked #1 in the PWI 500 for 2010, making him the first TNA wrestler to top the list. I know some people put a lot of stock in PWI and WON, not necessarily me personally, but I do think that the PWI 500, PWI awards and the WON awards are fun little tidbits of wrestling trivia.

Based on what we've seen out of Styles this year, do you think Styles should be ranked #1 or not?

 

[klunderbunker]

Yeah I think so. The guy was consistently great and put on solid match after solid match. He could get something out of anyone he fought and was by far the highlight of Impact even when things went bad. I could see a case for Punk, but a lot of that was his contrast with Hardy. Styles was great no matter who you threw him in there with, and that's not something you can say about a lot of people.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

Absolutely. Whether you hate the fact he's tributing Flair in his heel persona, AJ has been the single brightest spot on TNA's roster for well over a year now, and when you consider the fact it's damn near impossible for him to have a bad match, I think you've got a pretty solid answer to your question.

Hell, just look what he did for Rob Terry at Victory Road, and that match is far from the best on the card.

Unequivocal yes from me.

 

[Steamboat Ricky]

Yes. He's the best overall guy in the business today. He fights like a lightweight, has the charisma of a legend, and is the only non-sideshow thing about TNA that is relevant.

 

[Adam08]

I agree to extend Aj Styles has had a great year so far don't get me wrong. I am not decrediting him at all and I am happy that he made it to number 1. But I think a case can be made for Tyler Black. He put on plenty of good to great matches this year against the like's of Davey Richards, Aries, Rodrick Strong Chris Hero etc.

Do I think Tyler would make it two number know do for the fact they are trying to sell the magazine and casual fans wont know who he is.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

AJ Styles has long been among the only reasons I've bothered to watch TNA because he can be counted on to give great matches. I'm not thrilled at how he's been used by TNA since he's turned heel, and Flair clone at times, but I do respect that he's tried hard and has done the best he can with a lousy spot.

I've got no problem with him being #1 in the list and I do think he deserves it.

 

[Ruthless-RKO]

Yes, he is just magnificent in the ring and if there is any TNA wrestler to top the list, it has to be Styles...he gives us top matches everytime he performs in the ring and just great to watch...He deserves to be number 1, and he has given a lot the last year...

 

[The Holy One]

I agree with everybody else that he do deserve to be number 1 b/c he consistently provides TNA with great matches if the show doesn't do anything else and he's one of their best promo guys. I think he has been overdue for this for a couple of years imo.

 

[DiscipleofWrestling]

I definitely agree with this announcement. As everyone has already stated, match for match, Styles has been consistently stellar, regardless of whom they put him in the ring with. If you look at his work in the past several months, he's had entertaining to classic matches. I know when I see A.J. Styles is going to wrestle on iMPACT, I'm going to get the best entertainment I can get in that match.

I think Styles just sits above and beyond everyone else in terms of match to match quality in the past year. As great as Kurt Angle's run has been in the last year and as good as Chris Jericho's run has been in the past year, I still would put Styles work above both of those wrestlers in terms of best of the year. Great selection by PWI.

 

[mattmanRKO]

If this is the case then I fully agree with it. AJ is one of the only TNA Orginals I care about along with Joe. He really is the best in the world at the moment! His matches are quality and he has improved ten fold on the mic. My problem with him though is that while he was/is a heel he did not tone down his offence into a more ground version. Because high flying is going to gain a gasp or cheer from fans which is not what you want when trying to get over as a heel. But overall well deserved and credit to AJ for raising his game

 

[BatistrioFlyPunt]

If this is the case then I fully agree with it. AJ is one of the only TNA Orginals I care about along with Joe. He really is the best in the world at the moment! His matches are quality and he has improved ten fold on the mic. My problem with him though is that while he was/is a heel he did not tone down his offence into a more ground version. Because high flying is going to gain a gasp or cheer from fans which is not what you want when trying to get over as a heel. But overall well deserved and credit to AJ for raising his game

He isn't the best in the world. He might put on a good showing but that doesn't make him that. And in my opinion he is an over-rated high-flyer that doesn't deserve the hype. Also if he was the best in the world he wouldn't just wrestle in the US. To be the best in the world you have to prove it by wrestling all over the world like Bryan Danielson.

 

[mister_b1LL]

I absolutely agree. AJ Styles has been the most consistent man in wrestling right now. He puts on a great match every week, whether it's on television or on a PPV. It's almost like every match is Bound For Glory to him. Bigger stars this year have had matches that either never met expectations or just flat out sucked big time. I don't think since consistently watching TNA in the past 7 months have I ever said no to an AJ Styles match. AJ deserves it.

 

[Kenny Powers]

I'm glad for AJ Styles and for TNA being recognized in this poll. Its may not be anything major but it certainly helps deserving stars get recognition. I believe Jericho was #1 for the last 2 years so AJ Styles becoming #1 is a big achievement for him. Some may disagree with poll, I'm sure there a lot of other wrestlers around the world that could dispute this ranking. As far as mainstream wrestling goes WWE, TNA, and ROH, I believe this poll is accurate and I'm glad AJ Styles is finally getting some credit outside the internet.

 

[klunderbunker]

He isn't the best in the world. He might put on a good showing but that doesn't make him that. And in my opinion he is an over-rated high-flyer that doesn't deserve the hype. Also if he was the best in the world he wouldn't just wrestle in the US. To be the best in the world you have to prove it by wrestling all over the world like Bryan Danielson.

And here we have the traditional IWC mark. "American wrestling doesn't mean anything! WOO JAPAN AND MEXICO!"

There's a reason that he doesn't work over there or anywhere else: by comparison to TNA, those companies mean very little. TNA is in the biggest market in the world and is seen by more people worldwide than any other company in the world not named WWE. He is in a company where he gets paid far more money than he would make on the indy circuit, he's facing some of the best known names in the world and he's making a name for himself. Guys like Danielson are good but they're big fish in small ponds. Danielson came to WWE and while he was far from a failure, he certainly didn't blow the place away. Now he definitely could have become something special, but until you prove yourself on the main stage, you haven't proven much. Danielson isn't the best in the world and he really isn't even in the discussion.

And no that last line isn't a knock on Danielson. It's saying he hasn't faced the top competition so it's not a fair comparison to make.

 

[vertigolowe]

The new PWI 500 is coming out already? It seems like the last one just came out.

Anyway, the PWI 500 is done pretty much in kayfabe which is cool. They figure out the rankings by stuff like win/loss record, who you faced, titles, etc. So it makes sense that AJ would move up since he had a pretty dominant run with the TNA title while WWE shuffled around all of the titles quite a bit over the past year so no one person really stands out.

 

[NsaNeZiityyy]

i 100% agreed that Styles deserved this award,i personally think that Styles should have won 2009 wrestler of the year,he was in the main event of TNA practically all year long and deserved to finally win the TNA title,but IMO he should have been 2009 WOTY

 

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

Styles isn't the greatest entertainer in professional wrestling, but he's pretty good. More than that, he's one of the best athletes and wrestlers in the world. It is impressive that he's the first person from TNA to top the list, but really, who else would have done it? Late 2009 and 2010 have been the year of AJ Styles. He was World Champion for months, he was in prominent stables, and he's been managed by the "Nature Boy" Ric Flair.

Samoa Joe was close in 2008, but AJ Styles is the best hope TNA has for taking the "Wrestler of the Year". The announcement hasn't been officially made yet, and I'm curious to see who the runners up will be. It could be that in WWE, the main go-to guy hasn't really been clear. No one person has taken the helm for any length of time. I think Chris Jericho, Miz, and CM Punk have a good chance of being runners-up, as well as the obvious John Cena and Randy Orton choices.

Also, here's an interesting PWI note: Shawn Michaels has been involved in the last 6 straight "Match of the Year" choices. Pretty impressive if you ask me. With the exception of his hour long match with John Cena, they've all been Wrestlemania matches, starting with his triple threat match at 20 with Benoit and Triple H.

 

[a0161613]

AJ is the best in the world. I made this call in January. The only guy who can come remotely close is Kurt Angle. And there is no doubt that AJ's series with Kurt Angle gave him tremendous momentum for the past twelve months.

But there is no doubt that TNA always knew they had a star on their hands but he has matured in a true contender. The fact that he has added psychology to his game has helped, which he really lacked up until a few years ago.

But he is incredible, even though the whole heel saga has been a bit of a failure to most of our eyes, his work rate to make it as big a success as he can is admirable.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

Really? It's not a magazine I've ever really paid much attention to, probably because it comes out 3 months too late in the UK. But AJ Styles, really? Granted, no one individual has been truly outstanding this year (or for half of '09-10, I assume). But I can't for the life of me think what Styles has done to mark him out as the best wrestler of the year in this magazines eyes. I'd be interested to see who's number two.

Lots of good matches from AJ Styles, no great ones. I guess he won based on his matches with Daniels and the three way with Daniels & Joe late last year. Interesting to see he didn't win in 2005 or 2006 when he had better matches with those guys. Maybe that's a true indication of how nobody has had a series of outstanding matches so far this year.

Thinking back, to each years threads about the PWI 500, my usual thought is that they're wrong.

 

[FitFinlay4Life]

I've really struggled with this one. In my mind two guys have stood out for consistency this past 12 months and the real shock is that they're both from TNA (given the amount of stick the fed has received with the Monday night fiasco and the Hogan/ Bishoff debate). Kurt and AJ have been the shining lights of consistency. In the end I went with Kurt being no.1 and this is not a fault of AJ's. Simply, Kurt's been better booked - less run ins or distractions in his matches and he has never been booked as being second fiddle to anyone.