'The Lone Wolf' A.J. Styles Should Win the Bound for Glory Series

[Terry Gyimah]

If anything The Lone Wolf of TNA, TNA's outsider if you will, A.J. Styles should win the Bound for Glory series and why? Because A.J. deserves it if anything out of any superstar, paid his dues been a TNA original for 11 years pretty much the face of TNA and has been ever since day one but TNA as of late all they have done is keep A.J. Styles down or hold him back but now that he has changed gimmicks becoming the Lone Wolf becoming darker similar to Sting when Sting became The Crow back in WCW becoming a lone wolf similar to A.J. with WCW and the nWo wanting Sting just like how TNA wanted A.J., hell Aces and Eights wanted him and even Fortune wanted to reform bringing A.J. back into the fold but A.J. wanted no part of anyone

A.J. has pretty much done everything that there is to do in TNA winning every major title available that if anything in this Bound for Glory series he should win it and end up facing Bully Ray for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship at Bound for Glory with Bully dropping the title to A.J. because to see A.J. in his new gimmick as a champion especially then being the World Heavyweight Champion being a dark anti-hero makes for a bad-ass World Heavyweight Champion

 

[LSN80]

Poor grammar aside, I agree with you.

Before Hogan and Bischoff arrived in TNA, AJ was enjoying the longest World Title reign in TNA history. Shortly after, he dropped the belt to RVD on an episode of Impact, and while he got semi-pushes and moments in the spotlight, he's never been given a chance to take the ball and run with it. He's had his title shots, sure, but he's also been left off of PPV's altogether, and was involved in the Claire Lynch debacle.

Woud AJ winning the BFG series create a new star? No. But they didn't the two years prior, as veterans Bobby Roode and Jeff Hardy did, and they did ok for themselves.

AJ has a gimmick now, something that simply sets him apart from a heavyweight that's a semi-high flyer. Yes, they did a 'mini Ric Flair' gimmick when he was champion, but it was a poor fit for him. This gimmick seems like a much smoother transition for him, and he's done a great job with it thus far. Even better, it's logical. He's a TNA original who's been forced to endure "pregancy scares" and "affair scandals" with Dixie herself. None of those, the 'mini Ric Flair', the affair with Dixie, or the Claire Lynch Scandal, worked with his character. He's been squeaky clean for so long that they seem anti-thetical to who he is.

So now, it only makes sense that he would go with the loner-type character. He's spent so long doing things to please or help others, only for it to backfire on him every time. None of it was successful for him. now, he's been recruited by the MEM and Aces and Eights, made enemies of each, or at least, established that he's not going to work with or rely on others ihn order to get to the top. Gone are the days of Fourtune and Immortal, where AJ had his friends backs, and they his. But it also had him treading water.

Now, he has a gimmick that has a chance to work for him. He can focus on wrestling, and wrestling alone. No more gold studs with a girl on each arm. No more dubbed tapes showing him having an affair. No more pictures of him passed out in bed with a pregnant woman. Instead, he can simply be AJ Styles, the wrestler. The man who's proved time and time again that he can beat anyone. Without distractions, without scandals holding him back, he can focus on the one thing that matters, which is winning the BFG series. He's too talented to be wasted away in any other storyline.

And I wouldn't bet against a focused, unencumbered AJ Styles. Sometimes, the best gimmick is none at all, and it's working well for AJ. My hope is that he(or Magnus) does go on to win the BFG series, and is the one who takes the title from Bully Ray. No offense, Chris Sabin. AJ Styles is the type of performer you build a company around. Him winning the BFG series, as his own man, just seems right, and the right step in that direction.

 

[Nikeo]

I like AJ's new character, it's a good attempt at rebooting the character. I think AJ's popularity is overstated (in recent years anyway) by many within the IWC but, as has been touched on by the above poster, I think that has more to do with creative struggling to find a gimmick that fit him as opposed to a lack of talent.

Is he the next big star for the company? I have my doubts. Don't get me wrong, he's very good and the gimmick seems to be landing, but I just don't see AJ becoming "the guy" again.

Maybe I'm in the minority but the thoughts of Bully/AJ at BFG just doesn't get me excited.

I think, though I may be wrong, that TNA will find a way to make the match a triple threat match featuring Bully, representing Aces & 8s as the heel, AJ in his tweener role and Magnus representing the MEM as the face.

It's not a main-event that particularly gets me excited as a fan but, again, I could be in the minority and the fans might be very excited at the prospect.

I'm having trouble putting together what I think the BFG card will look like this year. Last year I thought they'd built towards a Hardy/Styles main-event but that's obviously not going to happen.

Should AJ win the series? I'm on the fence. I am of the opinion that it will be the case though. I hope I'm proved to be completely wrong and AJ leaves the event as the most over guy in the company and the gimmick goes on to be a long-term success for the ccompany but I'm not completely sold on it.

Is it a gimmick that CAN survive long-term and be condusive to a title reign? Would the gimmick lose the "mystique" people are raving about when he has to sell a feud on the mic? I don't have the answer for that and my apprehension could be without any merit, but it's how I feel about the gimmick.

 

[ヒュー　G.　レックション]

Woud AJ winning the BFG series create a new star? No. But they didn't the two years prior, as veterans Bobby Roode and Jeff Hardy did, and they did ok for themselves.

I have to completely disagree with you there on Bobby Roode. The BFG Series made Roode into a credible main eventer IMO, and also Storm by association since he also got into the finals and he'd end up being world champion briefly. But of course Hardy was already established.

Now as for Styles... yes I do want him to win it, and of course as soon as Styles lost that match at Turning Point 2012 "No world title shots until BFG 2013" we all thought "Could it be!? Could Styles win the next BFG Series?"

Styles vs Bully would make a GREAT match. The match they had at Slammiversary way back in 2011 was a classic and the first match that really had me sold on the Bully Ray character.

Are they really going to go that route though? Joe vs Bully I'd also love to see as well as Magnus vs Bully.

 

[Fire Marshall Bill]

Ummm...duh...?

I mean, I don't know what more to say. Of course he should win it. He's been set up, storyline wise, to win it for a long time now. Frankly, if he didn't win it, I'd say that's a dumber swerve for the sake of a swerve since Roode didn't beat Angle. While I admit the story worked out for Roode as he's been a top heel since that story played out, it was still dumb at the time.

The only other possibility that wouldn't disappoint me all that much to win the BFG series would be Magnus. But he's young enough that he can get his real push after all this is over.

 

[SpecialFNK]

I've never really been a big AJ Styles fan. I've only watched since 2010, so I don't know what he did before that. but since then he has been mid card at best. I think he has had 1 heavyweight title match since then and that was against Bobby Roode and the only reason that happened because James Storm at the time had a legit concussion, so TNA went with another former Fortune guy to face Roode.
this new gimmick is aight.
maybe by default I could see AJ winning the BFG series. I don't know if anyone else blows me away to win it. I don't want to see Hardy win. I really like Bobby Roode as a heavyweight title contender, but I don't really want to see him face/beat Bully. Magnus has some future potential, but I don't think it's his time yet. the BFG can be used really well to establish him, but not put him in the heavyweight title match yet. the only other guy I would want to win is Samoa Joe. I think maybe he might make more sense than AJ. right now the main story line feud is Aces and Eights against MEM. I think Joe as an already established guy makes sense to face/beat Bully. personally I would rather see Kurt Angle be the one to beat Bully, but at this point I don't see that happening.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Generally speaking, I think that's the direction they're going with it. Of the babyfaces or tweeners in the series, Styles & Hardy are the only ones with the credibility to face Bully Ray at BFG for the title. Now, that MIGHT change to include Magnus if TNA keeps building him the way they have been. As there's still several months left, it could happen; especially if Magnus is given major wins over top stars in the BFG Series, like Hardy and/or Styles for that matter, and is used well as in the Main Event Mafia.

If Chris Sabin successfully wins the TNA World Heavyweight Championship from Bully Ray at the Destination X episode, then it opens the field up. There are 6 former World Champions in the BFG Series but, at this time, none of them have the kind of momentum of Hardy or Styles. As I alluded to though, there's still several months until BFG so there's time for practically anyone to be built into a genuine contender for Sabin because, in all honesty, Sabin doesn't really have the star power as a singles wrestler that Bully Ray currently has. The only way that perception changes is if TNA builds Sabin like an absolute monster between the time IF he wins the title and BFG.

Otherwise, it'll almost certainly be a lackluster BFG main event no matter who wins the series; so the safest & easiest route is simply to keep Ray as champ and have Styles or Hardy win the series. Styles is a much fresh choice at this point, in my opinion. It's been well over 2 years since he dropped the title to RVD and close to 3 since he won it. Factor in his different character vs. Hardy still being a 35 year old Emo club kid that he's been for much of his career; Styles simply comes off as a better choice to me.

 

[The Eighties]

While the storyline does seem set up for AJ to face Bully at BFG, the same could be said for Storm going into last years Series.

I'm not sure this version of AJ is working, maybe some fans don't want him changed or simply don't buy him as a brooding badass, either way the initial excitement has dwindled and recent reactions to him have been mixed after cheap shotting Angle in the knee and then cutting the promo where he said he only wanted the title for the money.

This may have been an attempt to make him edgy and a real tweener but to me it sounds like it's left the audience a bit confused as to what AJ is supposed to be, I mean a tweener is supposed to still have the crowd behind them but people don't usually support someone that openly says they are only in it for the money.

TNA have at least got back-up options in the Series, I think it's too soon for Magnus but this would be a great opportunity to reboot Joe as a main eventer and there is the option of Roode being an "Unlikely savior" for TNA. Plus if they get cold feet on any of the above they can always just plug Hardy in.

 

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

There are so many story possibilities on the line right now going into the Bound for Glory series. I absolutely love it, because about half the guys could, and legitimately should win.

Aries, Roode, Daniels and Kazarian probably won't. It seems like TNA wants to continue the feud between the four of them into BFG, either to blow off the tag team angle, or possible do a Roode/Aries match. Either one of those options sounds great to me.

Park isn't going to win. Duh. Some goes for Jay Bradley.

At this point, Magnus is the obvious stand out. He has a shit load of points, is the youngest Main Event Mafia star, and everyone inside TNA is calling him the future. Question is, is the future now?

AJ Styles is another I'm questioning. In story, it makes sense. He couldn't fight for the world title for a year, which spawned this whole character he's got going on. But, the whole redemption angle doesn't really work if you're a tweener and nobody is sure what to do with you. He's also just not, in the grand scheme, important to the TNA story right now.

What really matters is the Aces & Eights. They're the dominant faction, and have been for over a year. BFG is going to be the "goodbye" show for them, and if I'm a betting man I say Bully Ray is still world champion at the PPV. That doesn't mean Sabin can't win and drop it before October, but the real MONEY is on Bully dropping the title to Magnus at Bound for Glory.

If I'm booking, I split the A8 vs MEM story into a series of matches. On the line is the future of the Aces & Eights, and for the Mafia, the retirement of Sting and Kurt Angle. Obviously, the family will fight to do whatever it takes to keep them in. One of the matches should be Rampage Jackson's first and only match; make it a spectacle, maybe draw in some UFC fans and spread the love with Belllator. Good for Spike, good for business. The other matches you can divide how you like, but the final match of the night should be a 2-2 tie breaker between Magnus and Bully for the world title. Winner takes all; world title, Aces & Eights breaks up or the Hall of Famers retire.

Is Magnus ready? Almost. Give him three more months with two Hall of Famers and Samoe Joe and he'll be more than ready. Fans love him. TNA loves him. Put Sting's career on the line - Angle's career on the line - and fans will eat it up. I would pre-order BFG today if I knew that's how the main event was going to be booked.

 

[JJYanks121]

The current champion is a heel. Unless he loses the title, a babyface has to win the BFG series to challenge for it at BFG. Thus, AJ can't be in the running because he's a heel.

So no, he should not win the series.

It really is that simple.

 

[newwaveknight]

Ok, now before I get into this, let me set a few disclaimers:

1) I'm an A.J. Styles fan.

2) This better not transform into a "push the TNA Originals" thread.

While I wouldn't be too bummed if A.J. Styles won the BFG series and possibly the WHC at BFG, there are MANY other people who I would rather see do the job.

First of all, I think it's safe to assume that Bully Ray is PROBABLY going to drop the belt at BFG. The point of having a stable the size of A&8's and have virtually every major storyline involve them is that it makes our "a challenger appears" moment a lot more epic.

To me, that moment would be more epic if it was someone who hasn't been the face of the company for a while. I'm all for that person being Magnus or Sabin, since those guys have put their time into this company.

Also, Styles has been with the company since day one, and we all know that regular TNA fans love him, but if TNA is trying to branch out their appeal, would A.J. Styles really help with that? This is the time for TNA to start experimenting around with their card a little.

Plus, it would seem rather anti-climatic if a tweener took the belt off of the biggest heel in the company. Yay, the blackness of evil was beaten by the....shade-of-grey of neutrality!

 

[ABMorales787]

The current champion is a heel. Unless he loses the title, a babyface has to win the BFG series to challenge for it at BFG. Thus, AJ can't be in the running because he's a heel.

So no, he should not win the series.

It really is that simple.

What show are you watching? AJ's a tweener right now who already has a beef with A's and 8's after turning them down and attacking them. Aside from Magnus, it seems that everything is tailormade for AJ to be the one to beat Calfzilla with his new Calf Killer. Subtle, I know.

 

[Cena's #1 In My Heart]

AJ Styles or Samoa Joe or even Austin Aries since he's amazing.

If Jeff Hardy wins, I'll be so disappointed and convinced that their is a WWE mole in the TNA locker room.

This is a make or break series for you TNA, are you going to back the amazing wrestlers or the popular superstars?!?

 

[JJYanks121]

What show are you watching? AJ's a tweener right now who already has a beef with A's and 8's after turning them down and attacking them. Aside from Magnus, it seems that everything is tailormade for AJ to be the one to beat Calfzilla with his new Calf Killer. Subtle, I know.

I'm watching the show where AJ has gotten in the way of every face that's tried to fight the heels. I'm watching the show where he's shown malice towards babyfaces like Storm and Angle but never any towards heels. I'm watching the show where the ONLY time AJ went against any heels was to turn down an invite to join a heel faction. He simply chose to be a heel on his own. There's nothing about him that says tweener at all.

You do make a good point with the calf thing, it's just a shame TNA is booking him like a huge jerk of a heel giving fans absolutely no reason to get behind the guy.

 

[Terry Gyimah]

AJ will win the Bound for Glory series and if and when he does, him facing Bully Ray at Bound for Glory would actually be a fitting way to get A.J. even more over because Sting back in WCW he was in the exact same kind of role A.J. is in now when Sting became The Crow he did some of the same things A.J. is doing now

 

[newwaveknight]

AJ will win the Bound for Glory series and if and when he does, him facing Bully Ray at Bound for Glory would actually be a fitting way to get A.J. even more over because Sting back in WCW he was in the exact same kind of role A.J. is in now when Sting became The Crow he did some of the same things A.J. is doing now

True, but when '97 rolled around, Sting was there for just one purpose: take Hogan's WHC and strike a hard-core blow to the nWo.

But to do that, they had him stay out of the ring for a whole year and not cut ANY promos. He just stalked the nWo like a shadow.

Meanwhile in TNA, they have A.J. Styles feuding with whoever as long as they can keep him on TV with something to do until they figure out what direction they are going with him. That's not anywhere CLOSE to the amount of planning they did with Sting.

And make A.J. even more over? He is considered by many fans to be the embodiment of TNA. TNA is sometimes called "The House That Styles Built". How much more over can you be?

 

[Terry Gyimah]

Yes you do have a point but what if they have Styles come out and randomly attack superstars whether they be face or heel becoming even more darker as people try to get answers out of AJ only for AJ to attack people that try to get answers out of him and have him disappear after that only to come back a few weeks later and then do that exact same thing attack people unexpectedly and then leave therefore just adding to the mystique of the lone wolf tweener AJ

 

[newwaveknight]

Yes you do have a point but what if they have Styles come out and randomly attack superstars whether they be face or heel becoming even more darker as people try to get answers out of AJ only for AJ to attack people that try to get answers out of him and have him disappear after that only to come back a few weeks later and then do that exact same thing attack people unexpectedly and then leave therefore just adding to the mystique of the lone wolf tweener AJ

That wouldn't be a bad booking angle.....if they didn't want A.J. Styles to win the BFG series and feud with Bully Ray. Wouldn't that kind of be a rip-off to the fans if the biggest heel stable the company has had in a while got dismantled by a guy who just goes out and attacks everyone? Shouldn't we get our heroic defeat of A&8's?

And having A.J. Styles avoid explaining his actions wouldn't further the mystery; it would mean that we would have a WHC champion who we're not sure if we should root for or not, and then change the channel until TNA decides what they want out of him.

 

[ヒュー　G.　レックション]

I'm watching the show where he's shown malice towards babyfaces like Storm and Angle but never any towards heels.

Bad Influence? A&8's?

 

[Dave_duncan]

Ok, now before I get into this, let me set a few disclaimers:

1) I'm an A.J. Styles fan.

2) This better not transform into a "push the TNA Originals" thread.

While I wouldn't be too bummed if A.J. Styles won the BFG series and possibly the WHC at BFG, there are MANY other people who I would rather see do the job.

First of all, I think it's safe to assume that Bully Ray is PROBABLY going to drop the belt at BFG. The point of having a stable the size of A&8's and have virtually every major storyline involve them is that it makes our "a challenger appears" moment a lot more epic.

To me, that moment would be more epic if it was someone who hasn't been the face of the company for a while. I'm all for that person being Magnus or Sabin, since those guys have put their time into this company.

Also, Styles has been with the company since day one, and we all know that regular TNA fans love him, but if TNA is trying to branch out their appeal, would A.J. Styles really help with that? This is the time for TNA to start experimenting around with their card a little.

Plus, it would seem rather anti-climatic if a tweener took the belt off of the biggest heel in the company. Yay, the blackness of evil was beaten by the....shade-of-grey of neutrality!

see I agree with you to an extent. I would have magnus win the bfg series (or joe) then have him lose to bully despite the match being a fair one. You could have the mem destroy aces and eights all night then have the challenger come out strong but eventually lose making bully look even stronger.

Then have styles the next week on impact challenge and beat bully for the title. Then I would like him to disappear again for a bit but with the title this time. it could lead to varies differant storylines but more importantly provide space for mem to rid tna of A&8s


Posted from Wrestlezone.com App for Android

 

[newwaveknight]

see I agree with you to an extent. I would have magnus win the bfg series (or joe) then have him lose to bully despite the match being a fair one. You could have the mem destroy aces and eights all night then have the challenger come out strong but eventually lose making bully look even stronger.

Then have styles the next week on impact challenge and beat bully for the title. Then I would like him to disappear again for a bit but with the title this time. it could lead to varies differant storylines but more importantly provide space for mem to rid tna of A&8s


Posted from Wrestlezone.com App for Android

Here's my question to you: A.J. Styles hijacks the title, and then what? You have an M.I.A. WHC who nobody know if they should cheer or boo. Meanwhile, any of the other babyfaces (and not tweeners) on the roster could have beat Bully Ray and actually have received the fanfare they deserve. It makes for a lackluster disassembling of A&8's if we're kinda of unenthusiastically cheering and booing simultaneously.