AJ Styles: The Phenomenal One’s 10 Best Matches Prior to Joining WWE

7. Vs. Samoa Joe – TNA Turning Point 2005

For the majority of 2005 TNA’s X-Division was all about three guys, AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, and Samoa Joe. The trio spent that year swapping the belt between each other while enthralling the TNA fans with their tremendous series of matches. We’ve already seen one of those matches on this list in the Styles/Daniels match from Against All Odds and much like that match, this was the first time this particular duo went to battle on pay per view. Not to say that they hadn’t known each other before hand as they had had met up in Ring of Honor in 2003 where Joe was the winner. And then it seemed like Joe followed after Styles to TNA to continue his dominance over him but had come up short until this night in Orlando.

The main story line going into this match was Joe’s undefeated streak as the then young Samoan had yet to be pinned in TNA and was running roughshod over the majority of the roster. Styles, like usual, battled valiantly and Joe, who looked like a monster in the making was vicious as he violently hammered his foe. AJ came close numerous times and even looked like he would potentially end the streak. The duo had the viewing audience eating out the palms of their hands as they watched their hero take on this new, virtually unstoppable beast.

This match was just the beginning of the Joe/Styles rivalry as the two squared off in some shape or form in 15 more PPV matches in the next 8 years. These were two of the pioneers of TNA and were one of the biggest reasons that the company at times came close to matching up with the WWE. Now together in the same company that they for so many years tried to overtake, hopefully it’s only a matter of time before their paths cross again and the WWE fans get to enjoy what was one of the better rivalries in pro wrestling history.