10 Wrestling "Botches" That Were Totally Intentional
2. AJ Styles: Botch Or Storytelling?
This one was probably a botch that AJ Styles was clever enough to cover for in a more irreverent promotion that allowed for such meta storytelling, but the recovery was so fantastic that it enables head canon.
Back in 2015, at the height of his actually phenomenal indie run reinvention - which in collaboration with his New Japan stint elevated him to the very forefront of the best in the world conversation - AJ Styles worked the Chikara King of Trios tournament alongside the Young Bucks. On night one, he botched a springboard attack on Worker Ant - who looked nonplussed at what to do before AJ improvised with an enziguiri - before this botch informed a mini-angle than ran across the subsequent nights.
On the next night, he sized up the ropes, ready to launch into a springboard forearm, but hesitated. He was apprehensive about slipping, again, so he stepped through the ropes instead in what was a cute, self-deprecating comedy spot. He was met with a punch to the face. He had to regain his confidence.
And that he did, after the third night, on which his attempt was thwarted by Team Fight Club Pro; in the final, opposite Team AAA, where he brought his confidence crisis bit to a close by successfully leaping off the rope.
Look, it was a botch.
But everything else was a deliberate and quite brilliant spot of realistic storytelling in a very daft promotion.