What if WWE Discovered AJ Styles?

[Kenny Powers]

I've read that AJ Styles was wrestling in the minor leagues with the likes of John Cena and Randy Orton before they were discovered by WWE. I understand in the past that AJ was involved in NWA Wildside and debuted on an episode of Thunder before WCW went bankrupt. Afterward AJ joined up with ROH and TNA founder Jeff Jarrett in 2002. AJ would become the face of TNA becoming the first X Division Champion while also having the most reigns with six, a five-time World Tag Team Champion (4 NWA and 1 TNA) and a three-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion. AJ was the first to hold the TNA Triple Crown Championship along with being the first Grand Slam Champion. My question is what if AJ was discovered by the WWE just like Cena and Orton? Could he have been as big as Cena or Orton? or better? Would he have been a midcarder or a jobber for months and then released a few months later? Could TNA survived without AJ Styles? or would AJ eventually go there anyways? This is a reply from Jim Ross from his blog:
I do not recall off hand while A.J. Styles wasn't hired but I do agree that he is a heck of a wrestler who I enjoy watching. Perhaps it was thought at the time that Styles wasn't ready or that creative did not have a feel for him. There could have been many reasons and those reasons could have obviously been flawed.
What do you think?

 

[obiwansidisi]

It wouldn’t work, no offense… it just wouldn’t. Vince has a formula that AJ just wouldn’t fit into. Everyone in the WWE is a character: The Deadman, The Heartbeak Kid, The Animal… would AJ be the Phenomenal One? No… and I’ll tell you why. Vince kills what he doesn’t create. He wants you to fit into a certain role, and if you don’t fit… you’re out. He doesn’t allow you to keep your identity. He punk’d Goldberg the first chance he got. He made Booker T job his belt to The Rock within the first month. He had CM Punk cover up his original tats and tone down his wrestling style? Do you remember what he did to Kaz, Daniels, Siaki and Harris? I do. Notice, none of those guys are still there. Is anyone old enough to remember the real ECW? How cool that was? Where is the original roster? The logo? The Titles? Now it’s a 3rd rate show… see? I love AJ, I think he’s the next Bret Hart, but he wouldn’t survive in WWE… Vince would kill his spirit…

 

[Rated R SuperFan]

OK first off AJ Styles was under contract to WCW when they were bought by WWE who in turn didn't pick up his contract as he was released . He was contacted by WWE had had several tryouts with the company working against fellow future TNA alum Shark Boy in 2001 / 2002 but rejected the low side garentee contract of $500 /week offered by WWE thinking he could make more the $500 a week on the indy scene in June 2002 he Debuted with NWA TNA and the rest as they say is history So WWE did discover AJ STYLES and let him go because he wasn't the jacked up monkey that Vinny Mac likes to make stars out of ie John Cenanuff , Triple Hollywoood , Bitchtista , Jack NoSwagger ect . WWE only wants to make stars out of these types of wrestlers and can't see the talent of the smaller guys (for any length of time) yes I know Rey Mysterio was in fact WHC but his reign was short and hasn't got a second run with the belt now has he ?

SO WWE Had AJ STYLES (Under a WCW Contract) released him then later tryed to get him back (Low balling him on a contract offer) he later signed with TNA and is a 3 time TNA World CHampion , 5 Time TNA X Division CHampion , 4 Time TNA World Tag Team Champion and a 1 Time TNA Legend's Champion !! TNA's Only Grand Slam Winner The FIRST Triple Crown winner , The Only 3 Time Triple Crown winner .

This is a PERFECT Example of the MANY times WWE & Vinny Mac have Dropped the Ball but all of u in the IWC don't want to admit that Because you would be going against the word of your wrestling god and his powerful wrestling promotion the big bad VINNY MAC & WWE and you can't do that becasue he might what ?? NOT Give the fans what they want NEWS FLASH to all the MARKS of the IWC he NEVER Gives wrestling fans what they want ... NEVER has ... NEVER WILL !!!
PEACE & LOVE 2 EVERY 1

 

[8five]

Ok so Ive been on these sites for a couple years now and all i ever read is AJ doesnt fit the WWE mold. Am I wrong or did Hardy v. Punk not just headline a ppv? AJ didn't fit the "old" WWE but he sure fits in great with the current WWE. He seems like a loyal guy so I doubt he'd ever jump but the man is arguably the greatest in ring worker in the business. If you look through the champions in the WWE today outside of Big Show and Orton they are all tiny by pro wrestling standards plus all the contenders are also. If Vince had discovered him he would be in the spots that Punk and Hardy are in right now without question. They are focusing on in ring ability lately and trying to move away from the steroid era of the past and AJ could have easily been the poster child for todays WWE

 

[Poop Master Flex]

First thing is AJ can always make it in the WWE. Someone with the unbelievable talent that AJ has can always find a way to make it work (Evan Bourne seems to be doing alright. I like Matt Sydal, but hes no AJ Styles).
But its like what Rated R said, the WWE DID have AJ and lowballed him on a guarantee, frankly AJ made a choice to try out NWA:TNA over WWE when it was started up and I don't think AJ regrets that choice for a minute (for the reason of the WWE has buried some really phenomenal talent in the past (no pun intended) and i doubt AJ would of had the success that he had in TNA, even though he is definetely talented enough to do so).

With the WWE the way as it is today, it would be smart to try to aquire AJ, he is someone who could really do well in the WWE's current "PG Era".

 

[The Instant Classic]

i think that aj could easily fit into modern day PG wwe. if he had just debuted in wwe recently without ever having been in tna, i think he would be doing exactly what evan bourne is doing now. tna would not have received nearly as much notoriety without him and without the notoriety they would have died out before the likes of angle, nash, booker, sting, steiner, foley and taz could have come in and put them even higher on the map. without aj styles in tna, wwe would be the only major wrestling promotion.

however there is no doubt in my mind that if aj, for some unlikely reason, decided to jump ship from tna to wwe, he would be 100% buried. even worse than they buried one of the best in the world christian. just because he was in the competition, no matter how small the competition is. vince did that with wcw guys coming in to wwe and would surely do that to any tna guys, especially the heart and soul of TNA.

mark my words, WHEN tna is finally either A.) bought out by vince or B.) [more likely] dies out because of bankruptcy and angle's power trips, all TNA talent will either have to retire or go to WWE where they will instantly be buried and get no credit. because that's!.......how vince roles!

 

[obiwansidisi]

First thing is AJ can always make it in the WWE. Someone with the unbelievable talent that AJ has can always find a way to make it work (Evan Bourne seems to be doing alright. I like Matt Sydal, but hes no AJ Styles).
But its like what Rated R said, the WWE DID have AJ and lowballed him on a guarantee, frankly AJ made a choice to try out NWA:TNA over WWE when it was started up and I don't think AJ regrets that choice for a minute (for the reason of the WWE has buried some really phenomenal talent in the past (no pun intended) and i doubt AJ would of had the success that he had in TNA, even though he is definetely talented enough to do so).

With the WWE the way as it is today, it would be smart to try to aquire AJ, he is someone who could really do well in the WWE's current "PG Era".

Sorry... look at Vince's track record. like I said before, he tries to kill what he doesn't destroy, making them fit into his mold. Evan Bourne is his version of AJ, because he knows that he messed up by not doing right by him. Trust me, if AJ were to go to the WWE, he'd job to Evan Bourne before he could even unpack his bags.

 

[TLC]

I think AJ could do wonders in WWE today having such great matches with the likes of jericho, hardy, punk and even morrison Man that would be amazing. But like people have said he wouldn't be treated right. He is in my opinion the best in ring worker in the world today, he made TNA a legit company which it is today and im happy he is in TNA Rather than WWE because he can show his amazing skill which would be toned down in WWE.

 

[Slyfox696]

For those people who think AJ could have made it in the WWE, you're nuts. I've seen a couple of interesting theories...

SO WWE Had AJ STYLES (Under a WCW Contract) released him then later tryed to get him back (Low balling him on a contract offer) he later signed with TNA and is a 3 time TNA World CHampion , 5 Time TNA X Division CHampion , 4 Time TNA World Tag Team Champion and a 1 Time TNA Legend's Champion !! TNA's Only Grand Slam Winner The FIRST Triple Crown winner , The Only 3 Time Triple Crown winner .

The majority of those titles were won when TNA was a minor league promotion. Not only that, AJ got over by doing things in the wrestling ring that the WWE would never have let him done.

Ridiculously ignorant post.

First thing is AJ can always make it in the WWE. Someone with the unbelievable talent that AJ has can always find a way to make it work (Evan Bourne seems to be doing alright. I like Matt Sydal, but hes no AJ Styles).

Matt Sydal is working the undercard in a time period of the WWE in which there are four different television shows, and a weak undercard, with the main-eventers spread too thin.

In 2001/2002, AJ Styles would NEVER have been able to compete with the likes of Steve Austin, Rock, Triple H, Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle, Ric Flair, etc. NEVER. Throw in the fact that there were only two tv shows at the time, and no brand split, and AJ didn't have a prayer.

AJ Styles got over because of his style of wrestling. He has developed into a hell of a wrestler, but he got over on flippys and high risk moves, in a promotion that was minor league until the last couple of years.

I love AJ Styles, he's in my Top 3 current favorite wrestlers. He's the reason I started watching TNA. But, there's no way that AJ Styles would have ever been able to make it in the WWE.

 

[jmt225]

Sly's got a great point. Just look at Paul London. He's every bit as talented as AJ Styles, in my opinion, and look at how he was used in WWE. The exact same would've happened to AJ Styles, I strongly believe, especially entering the company in 2001/2002. There were just way too many big names on the card back then and if you go back and watch that period, no new talent was pushed until Brock Lesnar came along. And while AJ Styles is tremendous, he's no Brock Lesnar and he would've never received the sort of push TNA gave him in WWE.

 

[flaboy]

i think that when aj was in wwe at the begining of his career wwe did not really let him do what he is capable but i do think that he would of been like bourne or mysterio if he was found but wwe has their limits on what the stars are allowed to do

 

[HypnotizedHero2010]

while aj styles isn't wut vince wants he's is still a great wrestler and one of the best in my opinion. he is very underused in TNA and he would be underused in WWE because vince is stupid about who he will and will not push. i think he's got the potential to we a wwe world champ but it will never happen

 

[Lancer]

Slyfox made a good point, the smaller guys like AJ (Bourne, Punk, Morrison) are being pushed because there are 4 shows and the main event scene is stretched pretty thin at the moment...not to mention the whole circus with Jeff Hardy signing or not forced creative to try and push new stars...

AJ might have made it in today's WWE, but back in 2001-02 when WWE had a shot at signing him, they had other main-eventers in mind...

My theory is that if AJ had taken WWE's deal, he would have been Christian-like, toiling in the midcard for a long while, and eventually going to TNA at some point or another....perhaps to return and receive a mini-push like Christian is getting now, but never main-event style treatment.

 

[TNA cross the line]

AJ i think if wwe found him that he would be a mid carder with a bad gimmick just because of his size cause you all know ole vinnie mac loves the big boys and remember the small champs like mysterio and hardy the fans put the belt on them not vince and thier title runs were on smackdown and wwe would not have pushed styles enough for the fans to give him a title run let alone mainevent status but i think if wwe were to sign him now god forbid then i think the fans would react positively but who know what would happen from that point on.

 

[Tenta]

Trust me, AJ Styles is far better suited for staying put in TNA. I mean, what does the guy have that he can't possibly get in TNA? Sure, he could become a bigger star on a bigger stage to perfect his craft, but he also stands the chance of failing on the big stage, and forever being classified with men such as Braden Walker. Actually, to some extent, it may be worse, as the guy has been hyped so much in TNA, that anything less than a mid card in WWE might prove extremely disappoint to Styles fans. WWE already has men like Evan Bourne and Jamie Noble under contract, and quite frankly, WWE isn't prepared to become nearly as gimmicky as TNA is currently. In short, and it's sad to say, but all of the novelty of an AJ Styles WWE run would prove to wear out when he couldn't do half of the moves that folks in TNA are used to watching him perform. He's far better suited staying in TNA, and allowing for his fan base to mature even more.

 

[The Hiphopapotamus]

If wwe discovered AJ Styles,he would probably still be in TNA right now.Because as Slyfox said:

AJ got over by doing things in the wrestling ring that the WWE would never have let him done.

AJ might not be a high flyer,or as much as a high flyer,anymore,but that was after his popularity and success skyrocketed due to doing crazy shit that would no way be allowed in the WWE,who's theory of high flying is rey Mysterio.Mysterio in the current WWE was nothing compared to AJ of old,or his past in the cruiserweight division of WCW.Mysterio is a prime example.he was a great high-flyer,untill his product was watered down by the WWE.Evan Bourne,as Matt Sydal in the indies,was much more of an aerial wrestler.Moves like the Cyclorama are not allowed.

AJ Styles,you must admit,is only starting to get mic skills.How would you expect him to get really anywhere in a company based a lot on promo and mic skills.Evan bourne is currently working the mid card or lower,and you just have to assume AJ would be working the same.But about me thinking he would be in TNA,I think that TNA would sign him if he ever got released,which I think he would at least once.Or he could see how X division wrestlers were successful,and he could choose to go there.

Or,without AJ,TNA might not even exist at all.

 

[KillBill]

A.J Styles was "discovered" by WWE. He wrestled on a episode of Heat or Jakked against Hurricane, its on youtube. He, shelley, Kaz, and Samoa Joe all wrestled a match for WWE, but they came off as jobbers in the match. They were too small I believe to succeed, and had a very bland look in their matches. Its good they went to TNA instead.

 

[Ambiguous Turd]

It wouldn’t work, no offense… it just wouldn’t. Vince has a formula that AJ just wouldn’t fit into. Everyone in the WWE is a character: The Deadman, The Heartbeak Kid, The Animal… would AJ be the Phenomenal One? No… and I’ll tell you why. Vince kills what he doesn’t create. He wants you to fit into a certain role, and if you don’t fit… you’re out. He doesn’t allow you to keep your identity. He punk’d Goldberg the first chance he got. He made Booker T job his belt to The Rock within the first month. He had CM Punk cover up his original tats and tone down his wrestling style? Do you remember what he did to Kaz, Daniels, Siaki and Harris? I do. Notice, none of those guys are still there. Is anyone old enough to remember the real ECW? How cool that was? Where is the original roster? The logo? The Titles? Now it’s a 3rd rate show… see? I love AJ, I think he’s the next Bret Hart, but he wouldn’t survive in WWE… Vince would kill his spirit…

I disagree with that statement 100%.

There are some characters, but very very few left in the company anymore. Characters and gimmicks have been replaced with bland, boring personalities.

Taker isn't even really as much of a character anymore, compared to what he used to be. He still does the entrance, but after that, he's Mr. MMA fighter in the ring.

HBK? Now, that is just a nickname. Not really as much of a character, anymore.

The Animal? Again, just a nickname. Not really a character.

John Cena? Gimmick or personality?


And speaking of other characters, what is Ricky Ortiz' character? Charlie Haas' character? Paul Burchill's character? Jamie Noble's character?

AJ Styles would fit in perfectly with today's WWE. There are basically very few actual characters anymore, and the ones that are there are pretty bland and toned down as it is. AJ would have no problem being himself in today's WWE without necessarily coming up with a gimmick for him.

WWE really missed the boat on this one.

 

[Big Sexy]

AJ Styles would fit in perfectly with today's WWE. There are basically very few actual characters anymore, and the ones that are there are pretty bland and toned down as it is. AJ would have no problem being himself in today's WWE without necessarily coming up with a gimmick for him.

WWE really missed the boat on this one.

AJ Styles might "fit in" with today's WWE, but I don't think he would be a main eventer by any means. It's a possibility that if the WWE would have signed he could have worked his way through developmental and then maybe done something in the WWE. However, I doubt he would have ever made it past the mid card. He's a great performer but he is a little undersized. I'd put him in the same boat as Evan Bourne. Bourne is a solid performer in the ring, but I doubt he is ever going to get past mid card status.

You could make the argument that if a guy like Brian Kendrick or Evan Bourne would have tried to make their name in TNA instead of going to the WWE that they could be stars in TNA. In that same respect I believe that if AJ would have gone to the WWE he would not be nearly as big of a star as he is now in TNA.

 

[travistragic]

It's kind of hard to tell. I've been thinking about it and, generally speaking, when AJ Styles had the potential to be picked up by WWE, as Sly said, there didn't look like too much room for him, especially considering his size. He would've been mixed in with other WCW transplants like Hurricane, Moore, Noble, and Yang and that would've pretty much been the long and short of it.

I'm not sure Evan Bourne/Matt Sydal is really much of a beacon for anything. Similar early careers for sure, but I wouldn't call Sydal a success in WWE just yet. CM Punk's post-ROH success in WWE however does add a little more merit to the argument, but then we're left with that same question of how much does Vince want to shit on a TNA guy? How many small guys does he need on his roster? And most important, what's the likelihood he's going to want to put him in a gimmick, comedy redneck tag team with Jamie Noble and/or Jesse (in my POV, probably pretty good chances --It's your boy, A Jeezy, AKA...)

Turning the question over, has TNA really done much for Styles anyway? Just about every talent they've acquired from WWE has/had been pushed ahead of him, most specifically the MEM members. As big as he's ever gotten in TNA, the majority of wrestling fans (you know, those "casual" f*cks) are going to more readily recognize even the lowest card of superstars in the WWE before Styles.