AJ Styles Talks TNA, Samoa Joe, Backstage News, More
Brett Buchanan of BarbaricWrestling.com sent this in:
The interview started out with AJ Styles talking about Big Momma’s House 2, he stated that a few of the scenes look funny and it looks like a good family film, AJ talking about this is quite hilarious. AJ then talked about wanting a lengthy NWA World Tag Team Championship run, he said that the times he held it with Jerry Lynn and Abyss the reigns were so short he never got to appreciate the belts, he then stated that he thinks that bringing in X-Division tag team titles would be a great thing for the X-Division.
AJ then gave his thoughts on Jeff Jarrett being back on the TNA Booking Committee. AJ stated that he thinks Jeff does so much in TNA and should leave the creative end of things to someone else; he then added that he thinks that Jarrett does have the final say in booking. AJ then talked about Vince Russo & Ring of Glory, he said that it’s a good way to get people to hear religious messages; he thinks that Vince is a great guy who has completely changed.
AJ then talked about his love for the Virtual Pro Wrestling video game. He said he likes playing as Haybusa the best, and that Virtual Pro Wrestling is the best video game ever. Talk then shifted to TNA’s video game, AJ said that the Ultimate X match will be a challenge to make on the game, he also said that the same people who made the engine for Virtual Pro Wrestling might be making the engine for the TNA game, so it’ll be great. AJ then addressed a question about him and New Japan, he said that they don’t think of him as a big name so currently there are no plans to bring him in.
AJ was then asked about canceling an ROH date but not a Ring of Glory date when he got a busted up lip, he stated that he was going to cancel his ROG date but Russo told him that he really needed him, so he tried to work more of an entertainment style match with Abyss, he added that he didn’t want to work for ROH not being 80-90%.
One of the hosts then asked AJ if he thinks the boys will have to tone down their in ring work once they start regularly doing house shows, he said that they already tone down their TV matches because their PPV matches take a toll on them.
AJ then discussed MTV/Big Vision Entertainment’s upstart promotion, he said they don’t have a chance at succeeding because of the roster. He said that some of the members of the roster have discipline issues (New Jack), have trouble showing up (Teddy Hart) and are a nuisance to wrestling. AJ is happy that Sydal will get a shot though, but wishes he could be in TNA. AJ has no idea why MTV are starting this fed with Big Vision, he thinks that if MTV want a wrestling show, they should have just given TNA one.
Styles then discussed TNA signing Sting, Christian Cage; Team 3D and other big names. He said that he was happy that Rhino, Christian and Team 3D joined the roster, he said that Sting is a great guy but that “the pay scale is a little high for Sting.” AJ then talked about Samoa Joe’s TNA contract situation, he said that Joe without a doubt deserves a raise. He said that he has a tight knit friendship with Chris Daniels and Joe, and stated they all take care of each other, but he said they shouldn’t be called a Kliq. AJ said that if something happens to Joe, something happens to AJ Styles. He said that himself, Joe and Daniels are top guys in the company, and they need to be taken care of. AJ added that more guys need to be added to the X-Division Title division. He thinks that Samoa Joe should be heavyweight champ, he and Daniels should be tag champ, and that Sonjay Dutt, Austin Aries, Sabin and others should be at the top of the X-Division. AJ then said that the only people who really get to establish their characters are heavyweights.
He said he doesn’t really get why TNA have Dave Hebner in a storyline, he then talked about how he was upset that that he and Shannon Moore had to have a brawl due to his hamstring problem. When asked about whom he could have a bad match with, he said it’d have to be Necro Butcher. He then stated that he doesn’t see himself going back to the heavyweight title scene anytime soon, but he’d like to take on Rhino, Monty Brown, and Christian Cage. He then said he wants to turn heel because it’s easier to cut a promo as a heel. One of the hosts then brought up John Cena not getting over, Styles then said he caught the promo Cena cut on Edge Monday on Raw, and thought it was funny.
AJ said that he was fine with being booed on IMPACT when he was award the Mr. TNA award instead of Samoa Joe; AJ said that he even probably voted for Joe. AJ then said “you haven’t seen anything else, it gets worse,” when describing his match with Samoa Joe that will happen at Against All Odds, he added on that the type of match they will have will be only the 2nd time in TNA history that the match type will have happened.
AJ then talked about the March TNA House Show in Detroit, he said he doesn’t have a clue on how it’ll do. He said that Philly isn’t one of the first places that they should go; he thinks Pittsburgh would be good. AJ added that TNA could do great overseas, like in the UK or Japan. The interview wrapped up with AJ talking about some of his best matches in 2005, including taking on Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels. The interview ended at the 35-minute mark.
You can download BWR with AJ Styles in the BME SECTION at BarbaricWrestling.com, where you can also check out the latest edition of The Wrestling Oddballs with Shannon Moore. Next week’s BWR will have Aaron “Jesus” Aguilera on and possibly Alex Shelley!
