'The Phenomenal One' appeals to people who like their
wrestlers to wrestle. That's not always something that gets factored in with
WWE fans. They like Hulk Hogan because of nostalgia (or maybe racism, who
knows?), Steve Austin because he was an outspoken asskicker, Rock because he
was a great promo, John Cena because of Reasons™. Styles is light on
intangibles but can put together a red hot match given enough time and a
semi-decent opponent. That's just not necessarily something that would help him
connect with the average WWE viewer who had no knowledge of his former life in
ROH, New Japan, and other respected groups.
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| Would Styles want to give up this spot for Monday nights wrestling R-Truth? |
Styles would not get to do what he's best at on the main
WWE roster. At least not until he'd earned his way to the top of the card with
years of paying dues to The WWE System. Which, understandably, probably
wouldn't appeal to him because he's getting paid main event money to headline
in NJPW now. He'd have no reason to relocate other than money, and WWE are
unlikely to pay him big bucks to work his way up through the mid-card. While
Styles has stated many times money is his chief motivation for wrestling I
can't see him trading his current career for the weekly grind of WWE's mid-card
and the whiff of one of Vince's brass rings unless a frankly unrealistic sum of
money was involved.
If you're considering that WWE would race AJ to the top
don't bother. That would break decades of routine and this is a company that
takes routine very seriously. No, he'd have to earn his way there like everyone
else. Because Vince is certain that the batch of guys who have come along since
2000 or so are all lazy millennials who just want to coast.
But Vince doesn't run NXT. Triple H does, and he's been
shown to break routine for his league. Wrestlers who have made names for
themselves outside of WWE have been signed and immediately pushed, helping it
to become a show with its own style and narrative quirks and a far more
satisfying watch than the average RAW. Immediately pushing guys like Finn
Bálor, Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe and Apollo Crews has trained fans to expect the
best in terms of booking for debuting stars. It is, as has been noted before,
WWE's take on the indies.
AJ Styles is a star to any wrestling fan who follows any
promotion that's not WWE. He emphatically would not be in Vince McMahon's eyes
because he will only truly consider someone a star once they've been built up
in his territory. But Styles could come into NXT and instantly be accepted by
its fans and that's what NXT needs. A steady stream of fan-friendly signings to
keep the momentum going as the men and women deemed prospects get bumped up to
the main roster.
With the "brand" still being expanded and
money-losing kinks being worked out (or at least minimised) signing someone who
could help draw crowds on the scale the company wants NXT to operate on would
clearly hold appeal. Like Joe, Styles doesn't look like a guy who'd be a sure
fire success booked by Vinnie Mac. But booked by people who'd play to his
strengths (wrestling) and disguise his weaknesses (talking, although he's miles
better than he used to be) he could be an asset to the planned global
expansion.
Could this signing happen? Absolutely. Would this signing
happen? Well, WWE could outbid New Japan with ease and attitudes to indy
standouts have changed significantly over the last several years. Samoa Joe
keeping his name shows Styles could keep his, handily explaining why he has a
massive AJ tattooed on his side. He'd be of use to an area of the company that
seems to be a priority. That had to count for something. It's by no means a
definite thing but Styles in NXT could happen. And with Finn Bálor likely not
far off a promotion the timing could be getting pretty good pretty soon because
that rarely appearing top babyface spot is perfect for Styles.
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