It's Damn Real!
The undisputed, undefeated TNA &
He's short, he's an "indie darling", he's a nobody who has to prove himself again (regardless of the IWGP nod), "welcome to the big leagues", "big fish in a small pond", etc. It's a parade of defamation.
This is a problem for two reasons, which are not mutually exclusive:
1. This undercuts WWE's own product. You brought AJ in to sell your product, so why are you speaking negatively of him in this manner at all? It makes no sense. Especially if you buy the theory that casual fans don't know who he is. Shouldn't you be lauding him as a phenomenal—all pun intended—offensive talent who can dazzle and will surely entertain them? Not that that theory is actually true. It isn't. But regardless, if you're going to perpetuate the lie, why fly in the face of it? It's backwards.
2. It alienates the audience of viewers who would be tuning in because WWE brought in AJ Styles. People like myself who weren't watching, but now might be because "holy fucking shit, AJ Styles is in WWE!? I gotta see this..."
It took me less than ten minutes to be reminded of why I stopped watching to begin with. Again, the parade of defamation, which often extends just beyond the actual talent, to at least tangentially affect fans who exist outside "the WWE universe" — a planet whose population like to pretend there is no other living matter in existence. That this "universe" begins and ends at their door. Again, in spite of the IWGP nod.
This isn't some butthurt rant about me being upset they won't mention TNA. TNA are their competition (yes, they fucking are), so, of course they don't see a reason to give them credit or a platform. This doesn't bother me. What bothers me is that as a massive AJ Styles fan, I'm unable to watch him perform because the arena he is doing so in refuses to give him a platform to do so without insulting us both in the process, making us grovel at their feet, praising and thanking them for allowing Styles to be on television along the way. Like Christian charities who hold sandwiches hostage at homeless shelters, requiring the needy to pray and "convert" in order to be fed.
This is a problem for two reasons, which are not mutually exclusive:
1. This undercuts WWE's own product. You brought AJ in to sell your product, so why are you speaking negatively of him in this manner at all? It makes no sense. Especially if you buy the theory that casual fans don't know who he is. Shouldn't you be lauding him as a phenomenal—all pun intended—offensive talent who can dazzle and will surely entertain them? Not that that theory is actually true. It isn't. But regardless, if you're going to perpetuate the lie, why fly in the face of it? It's backwards.
2. It alienates the audience of viewers who would be tuning in because WWE brought in AJ Styles. People like myself who weren't watching, but now might be because "holy fucking shit, AJ Styles is in WWE!? I gotta see this..."
It took me less than ten minutes to be reminded of why I stopped watching to begin with. Again, the parade of defamation, which often extends just beyond the actual talent, to at least tangentially affect fans who exist outside "the WWE universe" — a planet whose population like to pretend there is no other living matter in existence. That this "universe" begins and ends at their door. Again, in spite of the IWGP nod.
This isn't some butthurt rant about me being upset they won't mention TNA. TNA are their competition (yes, they fucking are), so, of course they don't see a reason to give them credit or a platform. This doesn't bother me. What bothers me is that as a massive AJ Styles fan, I'm unable to watch him perform because the arena he is doing so in refuses to give him a platform to do so without insulting us both in the process, making us grovel at their feet, praising and thanking them for allowing Styles to be on television along the way. Like Christian charities who hold sandwiches hostage at homeless shelters, requiring the needy to pray and "convert" in order to be fed.
