[2000-10-07-NWA Wildside] A.J. Styles vs Romeo Bliss

[soup23]

Romeo has such a thick Southern accent that it made me blush. Steve Martin has words for Romeo and the match is on. They are setting up the Toccoa house show on commentary and mention Lazz and Shank being in the prison. They cut to commercial right after Bailey rams Romeo into the post. We come back from break discussing how great AJ already is and how he is only going to get better. AJ gets huge air on his frog splash but Romeo is able to kick out. Romeo doesn’t show a ton throughout this match in timing his comebacks or making a lot of his strikes look powerful. Romeo does have decent color from the post shot. Larry Goodman gets a shoutout on commentary from Getz. Another great swantom bomb from AJ misses and Romeo rolls him up for the fluke pin. The pin pops big for that as AJ and Bailey throw a shit fit. *3/4

[AstroBoy]

This kind of hit the sweet spot for me.  AJ bumps around for Romeo and then Romeo gets posted and from there it's a simple story.  AJ uses his opportunity on offense to try to put him away with flashy moves, giving comebacks to Romeo when he takes too many stupid risks.  I got behind Romeo here (the blood added alot) as he tried to hang in there and played the gutsy babyface fighting with pride and courage.  Good rollup finish.

**1/2

[GSR]

It looks like Romeo has left his lovely ring robe at home which is a shame.  He’s got some choice words for Jeff G. Bailey but says the difference between them is that when he runs his mouth he’s got the balls to get in the ring and back it up, when he (Bailey) talks trash, he sends someone else to take the ass whipping that he deserves.  Steve Martin is accompanying Styles and Bailey to ringside and has an offer for Romeo.  He tells him that he can forget this match tonight, join the NWA Elite and they will make him the superstar that he’s always dreamed of.  Bliss acts as if he is going to accept but turns them down, saying how they couldn’t hang with Romeo Bliss!  A.J. takes a cracking bump off a knife edge chop in what it is the first offensive move of the match.  Bliss reverses the go behind into a hammerlock and transitions that into a pin attempt.  The quality of wrestling on show is a real surprise here, Romeo getting a second two count after a half nelson into a cradle.  Styles ducks to the outside as Steve Martin has words with the official.  Romeo follows A.J. out and slams his head into the apron, however he’s then grabbed from behind by Bailey who rams him into the ring post.  We return from a commercial break and see that Bliss is now busted open.  High frog splash for a near fall.  As Styles complains to Jimmy Rivers about the count, Romeo nails him with a clothesline sending him over the top rope to the outside (they had to do the spot twice because they botched it first time).  The action continues at ringside, Styles taking three separate spills over the barricade and into the front row after Bliss chops.  When he goes to get back in the ring, Bailey grabs him by the ankle, giving the advantage back to his man.  Romeo moves out the way of the ‘Swanton bomb’, rolls on top, hooks the leg and a suspiciously fast count from Rivers sees Bliss pick up the win.  Post-match Steve Martin kicks the turnbuckle in frustration and then starts hopping around, selling that foot.  I liked that!  Steve Prazak and Al Getz mention that it looks like Styles is blaming Bailey and Martin for not coming to his aid and being in the wrong place at the wrong time, maybe hinting at a face turn in the not too distant future.

A.J. does bump his ass off for these guys.  It’s one things do it for the likes of the Boogaloo Crew and their high impact offense, but he does it for everyone.  I’m more with Astro Boy on this, as between the chain wrestling, the blood, Bliss’ comebacks and the eventual upset win, this worked for me.

[Tim Evans]

Romeo Bliss is hilarious. He looks like Tommy Rogers but talks like southern rick rude. Steve Martin's reaction when Romeo turns him down is great. I thought this was a good tv match. Aj doesn't take him seriously but Romeo gets the last laugh. You guys weren't kidding with AJ's bumping. He even goes over the barricade and lands on Larry Goodman.