Author Topic: AJ Styles' Phenomenal Forearm: Contrived? (Read 3556 times)

FreebirdSTF · « **on:** April 12, 2016, 09:18:19 AM »

Bantered this one around on Twitter this AM. I think it's more of a semantics argument than anything, but I saw someone refer to the Phenomenal Forearm as "contrived." I say it's not. Your thoughts? Also if you have Twitter please vote in this poll I setup as well.

https://twitter.com/S_ATL_Wrestling/status/719871440074448896

Zandrax · « **Reply #1 on:** April 12, 2016, 09:38:06 AM »

It's a cool move. I prefer the name "Styles Smash" but that's just me. It's no different than a Savage Elbow, or a 619. When it's built to, it'll pop the crowd and end the match.

FreebirdSTF · « **Reply #2 on:** April 12, 2016, 11:37:54 AM »

See this is where the semantics come in. When I hear contrived I think of something like Del Rio's double stomp from the top which requires his opponent to hang on to the ropes in an unnatural way. To me, as an offensive move this is no different than going up top or whatever. I get the argument that it's hard to time it so you have an opponent staggering around for too long sometimes. I also get the argument that it may disrupt the flow of the match. I do not think either of those things makes the move "contrived."

I also think it looks cool so I have no issue with it in that regard either.

BigDaddy · « **Reply #3 on:** April 12, 2016, 01:06:28 PM »

Not sure I even get the argument for "contrived". It's a springboard move that can be done against any opponent in the ring. Other than the fact that he needs the time to get outside and climb the ropes (which MANY finishers require time), I don't see the issue. See Randy Orton's DDT off the middle rope for a definition of "contrived".

Prime · « **Reply #4 on:** April 12, 2016, 01:49:51 PM »

If there was an AJ move to consider contrived, I don't know why people aren't talking about the Styles Clash.

FreebirdSTF · « **Reply #5 on:** April 12, 2016, 03:52:10 PM »

Quote from: BigDaddy on April 12, 2016, 01:06:28 PM

Not sure I even get the argument for "contrived". It's a springboard move that can be done against any opponent in the ring. Other than the fact that he needs the time to get outside and climb the ropes (which MANY finishers require time), I don't see the issue. See Randy Orton's DDT off the middle rope for a definition of "contrived".

That was my take too. Rey's 619 or Alberto Del Rio's double-stomp off the top turnbuckle which requires the recipient to hang on to the ropes are far more contrived.

Torgo · « **Reply #6 on:** April 12, 2016, 08:04:02 PM »

It's rasslin'. The whole thing is contrived!

CJC · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2016, 01:45:31 PM »

I guess I'm more annoyed by the fact that it's so similar to Roman Reigns' "Superman Punch", which by the way is a REALLY ridiculous move because Reigns used to use it as both a transition move and a finisher in his matches. Besides that, for Styles it's a cool finisher.

Zandrax · « **Reply #8 on:** April 13, 2016, 01:56:56 PM »

Quote from: CJC on April 13, 2016, 01:45:31 PM

I guess I'm more annoyed by the fact that it's so similar to Roman Reigns' "Superman Punch", which by the way is a REALLY ridiculous move because Reigns used to use it as both a transition move and a finisher in his matches. Besides that, for Styles it's a cool finisher.

I wish there was an annouoncer the caliber of The Brain these days. When I see Reigns do his Punch, I practically hear Brain sarcastically saying "Yeah.Good WRESTLING move..."

KoppoKick · « **Reply #9 on:** April 17, 2016, 03:08:20 PM »

Really dug AJ vs. Del Rio from Smackdown.

Styles is a Phenomenal Forearm away in 14 days from becoming WWE World Champion. Would he be the first man to win WWE, NWA and the IWGP heavyweight titles?

EDGECRUSHER · « **Reply #10 on:** April 17, 2016, 09:44:26 PM »

I think he would, I don't believe Flair won any major Japan title.

FreebirdSTF · « **Reply #11 on:** May 05, 2016, 09:25:56 PM »

The guy who called this move contrived absolutely loves a Tower of Doom spot on Twitter so...

Horsehead · « **Reply #12 on:** May 06, 2016, 02:33:06 AM »

Quote from: Prime on April 12, 2016, 01:49:51 PM

If there was an AJ move to consider contrived, I don't know why people aren't talking about the Styles Clash.

this

FATSEXY · « **Reply #13 on:** May 06, 2016, 08:24:34 AM »

Quote from: Torgo on April 12, 2016, 08:04:02 PM

It's rasslin'. The whole thing is contrived!

Hoss nailed it. Is a standing vertical suplex any less contrived?

FATSEXY · « **Reply #14 on:** May 06, 2016, 08:25:35 AM »

Quote from: KoppoKick on April 17, 2016, 03:08:20 PM

Really dug AJ vs. Del Rio from Smackdown.

Styles is a Phenomenal Forearm away in 14 days from becoming WWE World Champion. Would he be the first man to win WWE, NWA and the IWGP heavyweight titles?

Hulkster brother!

FreebirdSTF · « **Reply #15 on:** May 06, 2016, 08:36:42 AM »

Hulk won the NWA Title?

Zandrax · « **Reply #16 on:** May 06, 2016, 01:32:14 PM »

Quote from: FreebirdSTF on May 06, 2016, 08:36:42 AM

Hulk won the NWA Title?

Nope. Didn't win the IWGP Title either. That was a phantom win.

FreebirdSTF · « **Reply #17 on:** May 06, 2016, 01:58:10 PM »

So The King of the Internet was off by 2 out of 3 titles. Not bad, chief!

CJC · « **Reply #18 on:** May 07, 2016, 12:01:24 AM »

Quote from: Zandrax on May 06, 2016, 01:32:14 PM

Nope. Didn't win the IWGP Title either. That was a phantom win.

Actually, it wasn't. It was a shoot win after Hogan's opponent, Antonio Inoki, got accidentally knocked out outside the ring, I believe from a Hogan clothesline. However, the first IWGP championship was a year-long, "worldwide" tournament (though with a lot of phantom matches that I don't think actually happened in several countries, kinda like the Intercontinental Championship being first won in a "tournament in Rio de Janeiro"), and it wasn't for a belt, it was for a trophy. Hogan vs Inoki was the tournament final, in Japan. The trophy did get defended, and then it became a regular championship, with a belt.

And no, Hogan never won the NWA (or TNA, for that matter) championship.

Zandrax · « **Reply #19 on:** May 07, 2016, 12:59:58 AM »

Quote from: CJC on May 07, 2016, 12:01:24 AM

Actually, it wasn't. It was a shoot win after Hogan's opponent, Antonio Inoki, got accidentally knocked out outside the ring, I believe from a Hogan clothesline. However, the first IWGP championship was a year-long, "worldwide" tournament (though with a lot of phantom matches that I don't think actually happened in several countries, kinda like the Intercontinental Championship being first won in a "tournament in Rio de Janeiro"), and it wasn't for a belt, it was for a trophy. Hogan vs Inoki was the tournament final, in Japan. The trophy did get defended, and then it became a regular championship, with a belt.

And no, Hogan never won the NWA (or TNA, for that matter) championship.

Hogan is not officially recognized as an IWGP Champion. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IWGP_Heavyweight_Championship#Title_history

Admittedly, I didn't know the whole story. I'd heard that Hogna beat Inoki via accidental knockout, but didn't know when. And going by the title's inception, it would've been during the Hulkamania boom. What you're talking about sounds like it predates the actual IWGP Title. New Japan existed for 15 years before the IWGP Title was established. So it sounds like it was for a cup tournament similar to the Tag Cups or G1 tournaments.

CJC · « **Reply #20 on:** May 07, 2016, 10:21:58 AM »

The IWGP title was an annual tournament and then became a regular title:

http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/newjapan/iwgp.html

POE-Bot Activated! · « **Reply #21 on:** May 07, 2016, 02:33:34 PM »

Quote from: Zandrax on April 13, 2016, 01:56:56 PM

I wish there was an annouoncer the caliber of The Brain these days. When I see Reigns do his Punch, I practically hear Brain sarcastically saying "Yeah.Good WRESTLING move..."

If JBL would quit being a jackass and saying 'they're having fun magle,' he could fill this role.

Prime · « **Reply #22 on:** May 07, 2016, 04:01:49 PM »

Quote from: Zandrax on April 13, 2016, 01:56:56 PM

I wish there was an annouoncer the caliber of The Brain these days. When I see Reigns do his Punch, I practically hear Brain sarcastically saying "Yeah.Good WRESTLING move..."

Mauro Ranallo and Corey Graves would be an amazing announce team.

Zandrax · « **Reply #23 on:** May 07, 2016, 09:15:29 PM »

Quote from: Prime on May 07, 2016, 04:01:49 PM

Mauro Ranallo and Corey Graves would be an amazing announce team.

Agreed

RealMarchHare · « **Reply #24 on:** May 09, 2016, 01:51:32 AM »

Quote from: Prime on May 07, 2016, 04:01:49 PM

Mauro Ranallo and Corey Graves would be an amazing announce team.

I actually texted Z that sentiment almost a month ago after binge watching a bunch of NXT, RAW, and SmackDOWN