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Styles Cliffhanger Falls Flat

Styles Cliffhanger Falls Flat

Posted: Jan 4th 2008 By: CMBurnham

When I got a look at the TNA script for last night?s Impact broadcast that was leaked on the Internet, I knew the A. J. Styles segments were going to be bad. It turns out that they were even worse on screen than they seemed on the pages.

The past two episodes have centered around whether Styles would back Kurt Angle or Christian Cage in their match at the Final Resolution pay-per-view on Sunday. TNA left us hanging last week, and after teasing viewers for two more hours last night, Styles said that he would announce his decision at the pay-per-view.

That?s right. For the low, low price of $29.95, you can find out which side A.J. is on. This must be one of those insane deals that Don West shills, because TNA is crazy if it thinks this angle is going to increase its modest buy rates.

Angle and Cage are the two biggest stars in the company, yet the TNA creative team actually believes the ?Who does A.J. Styles have the bigger man-crush on?? cliffhanger is the best way to promote their world title match.

Even if I bought into the premise, the vignettes that supposedly took place at Styles? grandmother?s house were just too silly for a main event angle.

Styles plays his role well, but as I?ve said before, he?s too talented to be playing an Eric Young-type character. Since we all know Vince Russo likes swerves, my hope is that Styles reveals at the pay-per-view that his country bumpkin act was just that ? an act ? and that he only did it to lure Cage into a false sense of security so that he could stab him in the back when he least expected it.

Other thoughts on last night?s show:

All of the matches were gauntlet style. I didn?t mind that, but it was a little unclear what exactly was at stake. Jim Cornette announced that the four gauntlet matches would determine the rankings for the heavyweights, tag teams, X Division wrestlers and women. Cage won the heavyweight match, but he already is the No. 1 contender, so what is the significance of his win? What did he gain? Awesome Kong didn?t win the women?s match, but she still is wrestling for the title at the pay-per-view, so what did she lose? ?

In one of the Styles segments, his third-grade teacher was introduced. Her name was Miss McGillicutty. Wasn?t that the name of the teacher on The Little Rascals? And people criticized JBL for making dated references on Smackdown. Miss McGillicutty pointed out that Styles had acne as a kid. Does anyone get acne in third grade? ?

I do like what TNA has done with Tomko. He is playing a character very similar to Batista when he was in Evolution and starting his slow babyface turn. For months, Tomko has stood by and just shook his head or rolled his eyes at the antics of the egomaniacal Cage and Angle. Like Batista, Tomko has the strong, silent thing working for him, although he did cut a nice promo on Angle. He explained that he is his own man, and the crowd got behind him. Tomko?s ring work has greatly improved since his WWE stint, and he has main-event potential in TNA. ?

I?m having trouble following the Samoa Joe-Kevin Nash angle. They had heat at the Turning Point pay-per-view, but then it was never acknowledged on television and they were hugging each other. Last night, they had heat again at the beginning of the show, but then they shook hands at the end.

By the way, what exactly was the point of Nash saying that Scott Hall has more problems in an hour that Joe will have in a lifetime? If that?s really the case, why in the world did TNA book him in a pay-per-view main event? More importantly, how long will it be before TNA brings him back? ?

Best line on the night: ?Hey, I don?t swing that way, Adonis.? ? ?Black Machismo? Jay Lethal to Sonjay Dutt after Dutt tried to kiss him.

Worst line of the night: ?Did you ever think you?d see Scott Steiner and Booker T. work together?? ? West, after Steiner and Booker formed an alliance in the heavyweight gauntlet match. Yeah, that was a shocker. Steiner and Booker haven?t been on the same side since ? two weeks ago.

 

Tags: TNA, A. J. Styles

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Spotlight in History

  • 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champion
  • 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
  • 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Champion
  • 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Champion

Week of Sun 04-28 to Sat: 05-04

  • 04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champion
  • 04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
  • 04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Champion
  • 04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 04-29 2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 1955 Ricki Starr became the TSW Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Champion
  • 04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Champion
  • 04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Champion
  • 04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Champion
  • 04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Champion
  • 05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Champion
  • 05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-02 1964 Mike Clancy & Al Lovelock def. Karol Krauser & Stan Pulaski for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Champion
  • 05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
  • 05-02 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 05-02 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
  • 05-02 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
  • 05-02 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Champion
  • 05-03 1973 Rip Tyler & Eddie Sullivan def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Dale Valentine) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-03 1985 Ted DiBiase & Steve Williams def. The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-03 2003 El Sufamilico def. Ichiban [1st] for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-03 2008 Damon Windsor def. Havoc for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-03 2008 Miss Sheila def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-03 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 05-04 1953 Mike Clancy def. Karl Von Poppenheim for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-04 1968 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1969 Jerry Miller & Jim Osborne def. Danny Little Bear & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1973 Blackjack Mulligan def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-04 1986 Kerry Von Erich & Lance Von Erich & Steve Simpson def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, & Buddy Roberts) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1986 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Lance Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1987 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) became the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 2003 Ichiban [1st]/Rocco Valentino def. El Sufamilico for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-04 2013 Tim Rockwell def. Daemon Storm for the UWE United States Champion
04-28
  • Siva Afi Apr 28th Today!
  • Chance Snodgrass Apr 28th Today!
  • Ichiban [2nd] Apr 28th Today!
  • Sunshine Apr 29th
  • Billie the Kiid Apr 30th
  • Dustin Tibbs Apr 30th
  • Joe McCarthy Apr 30th
  • Anarchy [2nd] Apr 30th
  • Prince Maivia May 1st
  • Kari Wright May 2nd
  • Americos May 2nd
  • Barrett Brown May 2nd
  • Don Fields May 2nd
  • Big Bossman May 2nd
  • Nightmare [1st] May 2nd
  • Lily McKenzie May 3rd
  • Lester Welch May 3rd
  • Johnny Humble May 3rd
  • Bull Schmitt May 4th
  • Malik Mayfield May 4th
  • El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th
  • El Matador Dos May 5th
  • Bill Watts May 5th
  • El Gallardo May 5th
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  • Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
  • Maria Brigitte May 5th
  • Shane Rawls May 5th
  • Princess Victoria May 5th
  • Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
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  • Claire Watson May 6th
  • Hercules May 7th
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  • Jake Danielsson May 9th
  • Billy Brown May 10th
  • Sunny War Cloud May 10th
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