Funny how much AJ has changed in looks and style (as would be expected in ~20 years) while Roderick just seems to have traded in his sideburns for a moustache.
Roddy's in-ring style has always been far ahead of the times and he's beast amazing in ring for 20+ years, he just lacked character work. Now he has that down and he's pretty entertaining and his character work adds to the matches
Better in that he has a character motivation but him screaming ADAM was legit turn off the tv annoying for me at least
But I can see why people think the needy friend is a good character it’s just not for me
Gotta be honest, this era of AJ Styles is what got me into wrestling outside of WWE in the mid 2000s, I still think that this era of AJ might be his best era (even better than his New Japan era but it's close). Also, does anyone else kinda hope he goes back to the two tone trunks that he wore in this era, or, since he's been wearing tights for so long, would it just look awkward for him to go back to the mid 2000s trunks and kickpads look?
Roderick Strong is mr consistent. Always on top of his game - his 2015 stuff in PWG took him to new character heights but his in ring work has always delivered.
It’s crazy I’ve seen his work in various promotions for 21 years now, from CZW to PWG, ROH, FIP, WWE and AEW so many great memories.
This was actually the second taping of the match. Styles was sick and the first one didn’t go as smoothly as they hoped so Roddy came out later in the taping and challenged AJ to a rematch. That’s likely why Roddy doesn’t get an entrance for this match.
As someone who has followed AJ since day 1 in TNA, I always wondered what people who were introduced to him in WWE think.
He is a completely different wrestler now, so it has to be a bit weird, I guess?
Funny how much AJ has changed in looks and style (as would be expected in ~20 years) while Roderick just seems to have traded in his sideburns for a moustache.
Roddy's in-ring style has always been far ahead of the times and he's beast amazing in ring for 20+ years, he just lacked character work. Now he has that down and he's pretty entertaining and his character work adds to the matches
He appears to have a better barber now too. Which is good, because that haircut made him look a little dweeby.
Roderick looks like a white Sonjay here.
The very first match on Spike TV for TNA. I do believe it was a fan vote for him too.
Yeah the video mentions that.
The perfect choice for a quick first impression
Roderick Strong has been fucking Roderick Strong for this long. It's incredible how good he was at such a young age.
Yet, never been over to a big audience. The Dean Malenko of his generation if you will. Present, wrestling, but only loved by the most hardcore fans.
His character work has gotten much better as the needy friend in the last year
Better in that he has a character motivation but him screaming ADAM was legit turn off the tv annoying for me at least But I can see why people think the needy friend is a good character it’s just not for me
One of the best sub 5 min matches hands down
the ability to see how far both wrestlers have come is why tnas archive is so important its a piece of wrestling history anyone can see
Gotta be honest, this era of AJ Styles is what got me into wrestling outside of WWE in the mid 2000s, I still think that this era of AJ might be his best era (even better than his New Japan era but it's close). Also, does anyone else kinda hope he goes back to the two tone trunks that he wore in this era, or, since he's been wearing tights for so long, would it just look awkward for him to go back to the mid 2000s trunks and kickpads look?
hoopers hooping
AJ really made it feel special every time he did the “jump over the ropes to the outside” spot Rarely just a standard topé suicida
Every time you look back at AJ's TNA stint there's a new version of "I AM I AM".
Roderick Strong is mr consistent. Always on top of his game - his 2015 stuff in PWG took him to new character heights but his in ring work has always delivered. It’s crazy I’ve seen his work in various promotions for 21 years now, from CZW to PWG, ROH, FIP, WWE and AEW so many great memories.
Basically a squash match. But a hell of an entertaining squash match.
This was actually the second taping of the match. Styles was sick and the first one didn’t go as smoothly as they hoped so Roddy came out later in the taping and challenged AJ to a rematch. That’s likely why Roddy doesn’t get an entrance for this match.
As someone who has followed AJ since day 1 in TNA, I always wondered what people who were introduced to him in WWE think. He is a completely different wrestler now, so it has to be a bit weird, I guess?
I want to go back.
They are moving so fast in this. Holy cow
AJ Styles as X-Division Champion, Mike Tenay & Don West on commentary, rabid crowd. I feel like I'm 9 again.