Among the newsworthy developments that happened during Wrestlemania weekend, one of the more interesting and pertinent ones for Ring of Honor occurred not in New Orleans, but rather in Japan.
AJ Styles made his official debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling on the April 6th, 2014 show in Tokyo entitled “Invasion Attack!” Styles gave proof to the name of the show-he invaded and attacked current IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada. Styles stood over Okada’s fallen body and declared that he would go after the current top title in that promotion.
Furthermore, it was revealed that AJ Styles had joined The Bullet Club, New Japan’s current major “outsider” group. The Bullet Club was founded originally by Prince Devitt (who was thrown out of the group on this very same show) and includes Karl “Machine Gun” Anderson, current ROH and IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks, Tama Tonga as well as bruisers Bad Luck Fale and Doc Gallows.
The Bullet Club has grown steadily over recent years, but their quest for creating destruction and chaos rolls on even without their original founder. The Bullet Club has been using interference and distraction as tactics to win-which have infuriated the fans attending New Japan shows.
So, AJ Styles will be the heel during his appearances for New Japan. It is clear he will be positioned right at the top of the promotion. The day after the event, New Japan declared AJ Styles a number one contender for the IWGP Heavyweight Title. He wrestles for the title on a New Japan show on May 3rd. It would be a minor surprise to see him win the title, but Styles signed a year-long contract to NJPW so it is quite possible.
However, Ring of Honor has been using AJ Styles as a babyface ever since his return. He is one of the clear marquee draws of the promotion and ROH has banked on his popularity to help sell tickets and increase promotion for their brand including selling house show tickets and driving television ratings.
Interestingly, there are some surprises if one takes a closer look at who AJ Styles has been booked against in ROH. AJ Styles has wrestled the likes of Roderick Strong, Jay Lethal, Michael Elgin and Chris Hero. Despite being a face, Styles has not been predominantly matched up against heels, but rather against other fan-favorite wrestlers (Styles wrestled Lethal before Lethal turned heel this past weekend in New Orleans). Why did Ring of Honor set out to book AJ Styles intentionally against other fan favorites during the past four months?
The showdowns with Lethal, Elgin and Hero fall into the category of “dream matches”- situations where they wouldn’t be able to take place under normal circumstances (i.e. Styles remains in TNA, unable to wrestle for ROH). These dream matches have a definite value, but it is one with a limited and uncertain window of time to exploit. One of the earliest and most fervent requests I read on my social media channels was for Styles to wrestle Elgin or Hero, and lo and behold the fans received both of those matches (and another Elgin match will come next week in Baltimore, MD).
Now that AJ Styles has signed with New Japan and is a heel in that promotion, those matches against popular wrestlers can come under a different scrutiny. It begs the question-was ROH priming the pump for Styles to be a heel? Or was it all just coincidence?
What is interesting to note now is that Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling are just under a month away from their cross-over shows in Toronto and New York City on May 10th and May 17th, respectively. AJ Styles has been booked for both shows, although in what capacity has yet to be revealed.
The questions are obvious: how will Styles’ status as a member of The Bullet Club affect those shows, if at all? Will Ring of Honor follow the New Japan status quo or their own when these crossover shows happen? Will AJ Styles be the IWGP Heavyweight Champion for Global Wars and War of the Worlds?
Michael Elgin has an IWGP Heavyweight Title shot lined up against Okada on the 17th in New York City. If Styles is champion, ROH and NJPW could switch the match to Styles versus Elgin, which would be the third match they will have in ROH. If the match is still Elgin vesrsus Okada, AJ Styles could play a role in the outcome of that match. Or perhaps, could he be inserted in the match and have it turned into a Triple Threat?
Even further down the line, how will Styles be booked in Ring of Honor in the future? Will he be the popular and athletic, dream match having superstar-or the mean-spirited and ambitious invader he appears to be now in New Japan?
It will be interesting to see if Ring of Honor and its fans can reconcile both of those possibilities’-or if it even matters when the bell rings on May 10th and May 17th.