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FIRE PRO WRESTLING RETURNS CHARACTER GUIDE: A.J. STYLES
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for Sony PlayStation 2 (U.S.)
Version 1.4
by Bill Wood ([email protected])
Last modified: 12/27/07

Fire Pro Wrestling Returns (c) 2005 Spike (c) 2007 Agetec

NOTE: This guide views and prints best with a monospace typeface.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

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==VERSION HISTORY==
===================

1.4 - Minor corrections.

1.3 - Minor additions and corrections.

1.2 - Finally! This guide has been updated to be consistent with the North
      American release of Fire Pro Returns.

      Minor additions and corrections as well.

1.1 - Strategy additions.

1.0 - Initial release of the guide.

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==TABLE OF CONTENTS==
=====================

SECTION 1: HISTORY OF A.J. STYLES
SECTION 2: SKILL AND PARAMETER STATS
SECTION 3: MOVELIST
SECTION 4: STRATEGY
SECTION 5: CLOSING

=====================================
==SECTION 1: HISTORY OF A.J. STYLES==
=====================================
It may seem tough to write a bio on a young wrestler whose career has only
just begun, but in the case of The Phenomenal A.J. Styles, the task is
much easier given his accomplishments to date.

Styles' wrestling career began on the American independent circuit, where
he made a name for himself with his high-risk athletic style. He was a
frequent competitor for the Ring of Honor championship in that promotion's
earliest days and had an impressive performance in the 2002 ECWA Super 8
tournament, losing out to future Pro Wrestling NOAH mainstay Donovan
Morgan in the finals.

The powers that be in Stamford, Connecticut (that's WWE territory for the
uninitiated) took notice of Styles, offering him a developmental contract
that paid a paltry $500 a week. Realizing he could do more for himself by
sticking to the indies and continuing to boost his rep, A.J. declined the
WWE offer, choosing to tough it out in the place where he got his start.

This decision may have proven to be a wise one, as it wasn't long after
that that Jeff Jarrett's upstart TNA promotion came calling. And instead
of insisting that Styles work his way from the bottom up, they decided to
immediately feature him as a prominent part of their roster, promoting him
as one of professional wrestling's talented new stars.

From there, A.J. went on to become a multi-time X Division and NWA
Heavyweight champion, beating Jarrett himself for the victory. But perhaps
more importantly, Styles -- along with new faces such as "Fallen Angel"
Christopher Daniels (who appears as his Japanese alter-ego Curry Man in
FPR) and Samoa Joe -- became the TNA poster boys for a new generation of
wrestlers, a daring new breed whose high-paced, energetic in-ring style
was a refreshing change of pace.

By establishing himself as one of TNA's biggest impact players, A.J.
Styles has poised himself to become one of wrestling brightest stars. What
the future has in store, only time will tell.

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==SECTION 2: SKILL AND PARAMETER STATS==
========================================

SKILL
-----
Real Name....................A.J. Styles
FPR Name....................Andy Spirals
Organization.........................TNA*
FPR Organization.....................AWG
FPR Group.......................USA Free
Size...............................Small
Class.............................Junior
Height............................173 cm
Weight.............................90 kg
Gender..............................Male
Birthdate......................1/22/1977
Country..........................America
Rank...................................C
Charisma...............................C
Stance.........................Technical
Fight Style.......................Junior
Return............................Junior
Critical........................Finisher
Special.............................Guts
Recovery...................Medium (Good)
Recovery (when bleeding)............Slow
Breathing.........................Medium
Breathing (when bleeding)..........Below
Spirit............................Medium
Spirit (when bleeding)..............Weak
Neck Endurance....................Normal
Arm Endurance.....................Normal
Back Endurance....................Normal
Leg Endurance.....................Normal
Movement Speed...............Medium Fast
Up and Down Speed............Medium Fast
Ascent Style.........................Run
Weapon.............................Chair

* = There is no TNA organization in Fire Pro Returns by default, you'll
    have to create it.

PARAMETER - OFFENSE     PARAMETER - DEFENSE
-------------------     -------------------
Punch.............4     Punch.............5
Kick..............3     Kick..............4
Throw.............6     Throw.............6
Joint.............7     Joint.............6
Stretch...........7     Stretch...........6
Power.............4     Flying............6
Agility...........6     Body..............5
Arm...............3     Lariat............3
Technical.........7     Technical.........7
Rough.............3     Rough.............4
MMA Overall.......3     MMA Overall.......5
Entertain.........1     Entertain.........9
-------------------     -------------------
OFF. SUB-TOTAL...54     DEF. SUB-TOTAL...66

TOTAL SKILL POINTS (on a scale from 0-380): 180

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==SECTION 3: MOVELIST==
=======================

Specialty moves are marked with [S]. Finisher is marked with [F].

KEY:

([]) = Square button
(X)  = X button
(O)  = Circle button

STRIKES
-------
Standing ([]).................................Low Kick
Standing (X)...............................Middle Kick
Standing (O) + d-pad....................Rolling Lariat
Standing (O).........................Spinning Dropkick
Standing ([]) + (X)..........................ENZUIGIRI [S]
Running ([]).........................Spinning Dropkick
Running (X)..............................Flying Lariat
Running (O)...............................Spinning DDT
Running Counter ([]).................Spinning Dropkick
Running Counter (X)......................Drop Toe Hold
Running Counter (O)..........................Powerslam
Running to corner....................Spinning Dropkick
Co-op Irish whip to corner...........Spinning Dropkick
Corner-to-center attack...........................None

GRAPPLES
--------
Grapple ([]).............................Backhand Chop
Grapple ([]) + Up............................Body Slam
Grapple ([]) + Left/Right...................Armbreaker
Grapple ([]) + Down........................Flying Mare
Grapple (X)...................................Headlock
Grapple (X) + Up...........................Brainbuster 
Grapple (X) + Left/Right...................Short Elbow
Grapple (X) + Down...........................Leg Sweep
Grapple (O)..............................COMPLETE DUST [S]
Grapple (O) + Up............Delay Vertical Brainbuster
Grapple (O) + Left/Right................Diamond Cutter
Grapple (O) + Down.......................SPIRALS CRUSH [F]
                              (a.k.a. "Style's Clash")
Grapple ([]) + (X)...........................Superkick
Back Grapple ([]).........................Sledgehammer
Back Grapple (X)...........................Reverse DDT
Back Grapple (O).........................Osaka Stunner
Back Grapple (O) + Up/Down.............Uproot Backdrop
Back Grapple (O) + Left/Right............German Suplex
Back Grapple ([]) + (X)..................Backslide Pin
Back Grapple Counter ([])...................Elbow Bunt
Back Grapple Counter (X).................Overhead Kick
                                       (a.k.a. "PELE")

OPPONENT DOWN MOVES
-------------------
Opponent Face Up at Head (X)..........Soccer Ball Kick
Opponent Face Up at Head (O)...........Stomping (Head)
Opponent Face Up at Feet (X).....Back Hook-Leg Pinfall
Opponent Face Up at Feet (O).........Torture Half Crab
Opponent Face Down at Head (X).................Pinfall
Opponent Face Down at Head (O)............Camel Clutch
Opponent Face Down at Feet (X).............Sickle Hold
Opponent Face Down at Feet (O).........Stomping (Knee)
Running at Downed Opponent (O).........Guillotine Drop

MMA MOVES
---------
Guard Attack ([])........................Knuckle Arrow
Guard Attack (X)...........................Boston Crab
Guard Attack (O).........................Jackknife Pin
Guard Counter.......................Small Package Hold
Mount/Facelock Attack ([])..................Body Punch
Mount/Facelock Attack (X)...............Front Necklock
Mount/Facelock Attack (O)...................Piledriver
Mount/Facelock Counter...................Drop Toe Hold
Back Mount Attack ([])...................Knuckle Arrow
Back Mount Attack (X)............................Elbow
Back Mount Attack (O)......................Kido Clutch
Back Mount Counter.....................Rolling Pinfall

POST AND APRON MOVES
--------------------
Post ([])...................................Mad Splash
Post (X)................................CANCUN TORNADO [S]
Post (O)..................................Missile Kick
Post ([]) + (X).....................Diving Body Attack
Running Post Dive ([])................Moonsault Attack
Running Post Dive (X).............................none
Corner Grapple (O) + Up...........Top Rope Huracanrana
Corner Grapple (O) + Left/Right............Tornado DDT
Corner Grapple (O) + Down..........Corner Low Dropkick
Corner (Top Rope) Counter [F]......Top Rope Rollup Pin
Corner (Top Rope) Counter [B].....Top Rope Huracanrana
Inside Apron Grapple...............Brainbuster to Ring
Outside Apron Grapple..............Landing Brainbuster
Run to outside...........................TOPE CON JILO [S]
Dive out ring..............................La Quebrada
Dive in ring.........................Ultra Huracanrana
Cage Dive.........................................none

DOUBLE AND TRIPLE TEAM MOVES
----------------------------
Front Double Team......................Double Dropkick
Back Double Team..................Bomb Neck Drop Combo
Corner Double Team.....................Double Backdrop
Front Triple Team...................Triple Hammer Blow
Back Triple Team....................Triple Hammer Blow
Corner Triple Team.......................Triple Impact

PERFORMANCE
-----------
Entry Performance.......................Hand Guts Pose
Analog Stick Left...................Fist and Arm Raise
Analog Stick Right...................Neck Putting Pose
Analog Stick Up...........................Panther Pose
Analog Stick Down....................Hand Raise Pose 1

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==SECTION 4: STRATEGY==
=======================

GENERAL STRATEGY
In terms of sheer diversity, A.J. Styles is one of the more capable
wrestlers in FPR, and ranks right up at the very top of the Junior class
skill-wise. Thanks to his exciting array of moves, you should have no
trouble having a great match with A.J. Unfortunately, some of his more
unique moves (Shooting Star Press to the outside, backflip/moonsault off
the top turnbuckle into Reverse DDT) aren't in FPR. However, that doesn't
mean that you can't have some thrilling matches all the same.

Perhaps taking a cue from his classic Iron Man I match with Christopher
Daniels, Spike has given A.J. the "Guts" skill. This means he'll be MUCH
harder to submit than your average wrestler, which is definitely a good
thing, especially when you're playing against another player who isn't
aware that he has such a skill!

Offensively speaking, Styles is best suited for groundwork in Fire Pro
Returns; stretches, submissions and technical moves that take advantage of
his stats in those areas. You'll want to avoid a strikefest if you can, as
strikes are not his greatest asset. And of course, you're going to want to
throw in some high-risk stuff for good measure, but his offense really
isn't as mind-blowing here as you might expect. Still, it's never a bad
idea to toss a worn opponent outside the ring, then perform an exciting
Tope Con Jilo.

On the defensive side, A.J. is surprisingly durable, his sole weakness
being against lariat-type attacks (and kick and rough to a lesser extent).
Therefore, if you're looking to beat A.J., someone such as a Vader or a
Stan Hansen would probably be your best bet. (Then again, those guys are
a good bet to beat just about anybody!)

STRIKES
A.J. has mostly kicks in his strike arsenal, but only a 3 offensive kick
rating to compliment them. This means you're basically better off closing
in for the grapple, although if you can time the Enzuigiri (closest thing
in the game to the Pele I other than the back grapple counter) properly,
you can make a dent with it.

Speaking of the Pele, ever notice how much the CPU likes to pick its
opponent up from the mat and initiate a back grapple? Well, A.J. is one of
the few wrestlers in the game you'd actually WANT this to happen to,
seeing as his famous kick is done as a back grapple counter. If you see
the CPU going for this setup, you can smirk to yourself about how the
situation is going to play out!

GRAPPLES
A.J. Styles has an excellent grapple set, which includes the Sheer Drop
Brainbuster, the Complete Dust, and that new-era staple of American
wrestling, the Superkick. But of course, it's all about working up to his
patented finisher, the Styles Clash. On your way there, be sure to lock
on some ground submissions while the opponent is down, as this will help
to wear them down quickly.

Another grapple situation to always keep in mind is from the corner, as
A.J. can perform both a Top Rope Huracanrana and a Tornado DDT from a
corner grapple. And of course, sticking to the corner means you'll have
access to high-flying moves such as the Cancun Tornado when the opponent
is lying prone on the mat. So from a strategic point of view, keeping the
fight close to the turnbuckles is never a bad thing.

======================
==SECTION 5: CLOSING==
======================
In closing, I would like to thank Jason Blackhart for statistical
information, and Michael "maikeru" Leal and tokerblue for movelist
information. I would also like to thank The Senator, motosada and
danteblack for their contributions.

Fire Pro Wrestling Returns Character Guide: A.J. Styles
(c) 2005 Bill Wood (c) 2007 Agetec