AJ Styles is The Phenomenal One on WWE SmackDown. Credit: WWE.com
From TNA, to Japan, AJ Styles has had one of the most storied careers in pro wrestling history. But what were his best matches before finally signing with the WWE?
Back in 1998, a 21 year-old kid by the name of Allen Neal Jones began his professional wrestling career in a small, independent wrestling promotion in Georgia as a masked wrestler named Mr. Olympia. However, within the next year, the young man would lose the mask and begin performing under the name AJ Styles and with that, one of the greatest professional wrestling careers began. Over the course of the next 18 years, Styles would go on to win championships in five different countries while cementing himself as one of the best in-ring performers in the entire industry.
Styles began to first make a name for himself in both Ring of Honor and TNA, but it was his accomplishments in the latter that did the most for his career as his name became synonymous with the growing company and many of his matches became known as instant classics. After over a decade with TNA, Styles left the promotion in 2013 and at 36 years-old at that time, most thought that his career was on it’s final legs. However, Styles headed for Japan in April of 2014 and for anyone who thought his days were coming to an end were given a shot of reality when “The Phenomenal One” began churning out more amazing battles in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Styles parlayed all this success into a WWE contract and he wasted no time showing his new company’s fans just how real the hype was as he put on immediate classics with the likes of John Cena, Roman Reigns, and Chris Jericho. Styles undoubtedly has more left to give to the WWE and should continue to do so, but until then it’s time to examine what this gifted worker’s best stuff has been pre-WWE.
Ahead we rank AJ Styles ten best matches before the WWE.
10. VS. Christopher Daniels – TNA Against All Odds 2005
A perfect way to kick off this list is this match from the February 2005 TNA Against All Odds, because to know AJ Styles and his time in TNA, is to know “The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels as well. Best friends outside of the ring and off and on mortal enemies inside it, the duo had been squaring off in a litany of other wrestling promotions since 2001. So when they both signed to TNA in 2002, it seemed like a matter of time before the two would link up again. Although it took three years before finally happening, Styles and Daniels would make it worth it, battling for nearly a year over the company’s X-Division Championship, a division known for high-flying, risk-taking type superstars.
This match at Against All Odds was only their second singles match in TNA but it was the one that gave the X-Division the increased popularity that it deserved. The match, a 30 minute Iron Match bout, came with big expectations to which Styles and Daniels attained. Both guys were brilliant on this night in Orlando as Daniels played the conniving heel, a persona that he became renowned for, and Styles played the hard-charging baby face megastar that was starting to amass. The pairing knew each other extremely well already and it showed as they each anticipated their opponents move set with grace and fluidity, developing this encounter into one of the very best matches of its kind.
The match eventually went over the 30 minutes allotted tied at one apiece which allowed Styles to pick up the exciting victory via Styles Clash in sudden death overtime. It was extremely smart booking as the budding superstar got the win but at the same time gave the heel a reason to get a rematch down the line. Daniels would use that momentum to take the title away from AJ a month later at Destination X but their saga still remained in the infantile stages in what would eventually become one of the greatest rivalries in TNA history.
9. Vs. Kota Ibushi – 2015 G1 Climax First Round
When Styles left TNA at the end of 2013, he had many options on the table as far as getting work. With his resume and reputation, “Mr. TNA” had his pick of the litter in the industry and for the first six months he toiled around the indy wrestling scene in promotions like Ring of Honor, Combat Zone Wrestling, and Heartland Wrestling Association before bringing his talents to The Land of the Rising Sun in May of 2014. Styles wasted no time in NJPW making an impact, snatching up the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in his first match before losing it and then winning a second one nine months later.
It was during his second reign with that belt where he’d first encounter Ibushi, the 32 year-old Japanese stand out. The duo headlined the Invasion Attack PPV in April of 2015 and put on a show-stealing performance that night. However it was just two months later during the 2015 G1 Climax that Ibushi and Styles produced their best stuff. The only area that their first encounter faltered was the length of time. At Invasion Attack, the pairing went at it for 27 minutes and because of that, it dragged ever so slightly. For this match, they only went 19 minutes yet managed to pack even more action in. It was a track meet from beginning until the breathtaking end which saw “The Golden Star” even up his career record with Styles.
Six months after this bout, Styles found his way to the WWE. Six months after that, Ibushi did the same albeit in temporary fashion as he wowed the WWE Universe en route to the semifinals of the Cruiserweight Classic. Ibushi now remains a fixture in NJPW and to this day this match with Styles ranks right up there with anything “The Phenomenal One” did during his stunning run in Japan.
8. Vs. Will Ospreay Vs. Marty Scurll – RevPro Uprising 2015
The one match from this list that didn’t happen in either NJPW or TNA is this triple threat classic from Kent, England’s Revolution Pro Wrestling promotion in October of 2015, just three months before Styles headed for the WWE. Having only wrestled for the British company six times in all, Styles made a major impact in that promotion starting off with his first match in January of that year in a winning effort against the then 22 year-old Ospreay (a match that just narrowly missed making this list). He followed that up four months later against Scurll and again was victorious, this time winning the RevPro British Heavyweight Championship in another amazing match. That led to this showdown between he and the two rising stars in the pro wrestling industry and the trio did not disappoint.
This match really had it all. The psychology between Ospreay and Scurll trying to settle their personal score with each other while still trying to capture the belt from Styles made so much sense. And the pacing in this battle was just off the charts with each superstar finding huge moments throughout the match’s 18 minutes of time. And the crowd? Molten-hot. The 680 in attendance made Madison Square Garden sound quiet as they cheered wildly for it’s two countrymen only to see Styles walk away with the strap.
What was so important about this match is what it did for the two youngsters. Already viewed as two of the very best young prospects in all of the wrestling industry, this match was the catalyst that has driven both of their futures. Since this war two years ago, Ospreay has won 11 championships in 10 different promotions including Ring of Honor and NJPW where he currently holds the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title. And Scurll would find success as well in winning the PROGRESS Heavyweight title twice and the Ring of Honor Television title as well. Anytime a match does so much for everyone involved, you know that something special took place in it, and that each participant will be forever grateful that it happened.
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.
6. Vs. Chris Sabin Vs. Petey Williams – TNA Final Resolution 2005
Just before the Styles/Daniels/Joe feud started, AJ, already a 3-time X-Division titlist walked into TNA’s January 2005 pay per view as one of the challengers. In this bout, he would be taking on two of the very best, yet criminally underrated talent in the history of TNA in Chris Sabin and Petey Williams. But what happens when you combine superstar power with pure, untapped talent? You get this masterpiece Ultimate X match from the 2005 Final Resolution show.
For those of you who don’t know or don’t remember the rules of this type of match, here goes. Two intersecting, diagonal cables hang above the ring with the X-Division title dangling in the middle. From there it’s a no disqualification, no holds barred fight with the goal being to capture the title belt. And when you factor in that these matches were contested with members of the richly talented X-Division, usually insanity ensues. It’s like a ladder match on steroids.
As of this writing, there have been 41 Ultimate X matches, and this, in this writer’s opinion was the best of all of them. And when you see three of the X-Division’s best ever competing in it, that’s hardly a surprise. Sabin, already a two-time divisional champion going into this match, and eventual 8 time champ along with a TNA world title to his credit, was the other challenger on this night and he was brilliant as usual. And Williams, the under-sized Canadian who fought his way to the title on the strength of his highlight reel Canadian Destroyer finisher, did much of the same.
But unfortunately for those two, they happened to run into a guy that was slowly but surely turning into the best wrestler on the planet and when the smoke cleared, Styles was holding his fourth X-Division strap. It was another notch on AJ’s belt but it was a career booster for the two men who matched him move for move that night.
5. Vs. Kazuchika Okada – NJPW Dominion 7.5 – 2015
When Styles signed with New Japan Pro Wrestling April of 2014 most fans assumed that he would take on a main event type role upon entering the company. It wouldn’t have made sense to bring in a guy with a resume like Styles and relegate him to mid-card status. His position was immediately confirmed when he debuted on April 6th at Invasion Attack as he jumped IWGP Champion Kazuchika Okada and revealed himself as a part of the Bullet Club. Less than a month later Styles, in his first match with NJPW got a crack at Okada’s belt and with some help from his new stable, made good on his promise to become champion as he became the first man to win world championships in both NJPW and TNA.
When the match between these two was announced, expectations of what they could produce in the ring were very high. After all, we knew what Styles could do but Okada, in his second run as champion had officially established himself as a legend of the sport at only 27 years old. Their first ever match took place at Wrestling Dontaku 2014 in Fukuoka, Japan, and the result of the performance? It was pretty good, not great. The duo met up again three weeks later in Yokohama and put on a better match than the first with Styles again winning. Two months after that, they went to battle again at the 2014 G1 Climax and Okada got some revenge in a winning performance in a match that was better than the first two.
It would take nearly a year before the two would finally find each other again and this time, at Dominion 7.5, they finally put on the masterpiece everyone knew that they were capable of. The match told an amazing story of the baby face Okada trying to get his belt back while fighting off other members of the Bullet Club that Styles relied on, only to see the group ejected from ringside which ignited the heel to almost pull off the title defense victory. And the ending two minutes of this match are about are about the best sequence of pro wrestling you’ll ever see.
Styles got another crack at Okada three months later in Tokyo but again came up short giving Okada a 3-2 career lead. If there is justice in the world of pro wrestling, some day fans may see match number 6.
4. Vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi – G1 Climax 2015
Much like Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi is one of NJPW’s current legends and one of the top stars on their roster. A 7-time IWGP Heayweight Champion as well a 2-time IWGP Intercontinental Champion and a two-time winner of the G1 Climax, the “Ace of the Universe” has done just about everything there is to do within the company. So it was no surprise to see Tanahashi throw his name in the hat as one of Styles challengers shortly after he arrived.
Three months into Styles run in Japan, the pairing linked up at the 2014 G1 Climax with Tanahashi getting the win and by pinning the current champ, entitled him to a title match with AJ just two months later at King of Pro Wrestling 2014. There, Tanahashi again was victorious and captured his seventh world title. Styles would then gain a massive measure of revenge when, in February of 2015, took the championship back in Osaka.
However, their final encounter at the 2015 G1 Climax was their masterpiece. Based around an amazing psychological magic, Styles and Tanahashi tore into each other like two guys who knew it was going to be their last hurrah. The action was hard-hitting, graceful, and dramatic with both players embracing their roles as heel and baby face. The crowd was hot for Tanahashi and he seemed to play off it as he attacked his opponents legs trying to render the high-flyer useless. And of course, trading and kicking out of each others finishers is always good entertainment.
Tanahashi took the win on this night and used the strength of it to carry him all the win his second G1 and add another accomplishment to his already glamorous record. Styles used the performance to garner another title shot at Okada, although it was unsuccessful. Tremendous story, amazing pacing, and two world-class professionals. That’s all you need for a classic.
3. Vs. Minoru Suzuki – G1 Climax – 2014
One year before Styles battle with Tanahashi, “The Phenomenal One” took part in his first ever G1 Climax tournament. Walking into the vaunted wrestling gauntlet as champion, Styles had high hopes for winning the entire thing and becoming the first non-Japanese wrestler to accomplish that feat. In the end however, he came up just short. He scored 16 points in the G1’s B Block, a loss to Okada costing him a spot in the finals. But along the way was this war with NJPW’s resident tough guy, Minoru Suzuki, who at 47 years old at the time of this bout, was and is still just as good as superstars half his age. This ended up being their one and only time in the ring against together and for over 16 minutes these guys made it abundantly clear that they would never forget each other.
This match just seemed to click on all fronts and for two guys that had virtually zero history, they both brought so much animosity and passion to the fight you’d think they were age-old enemies. Styles started the match in his typical high-flying, fast-paced fashion. But Suzuki would have none of it, dragging AJ deep into the deep waters in the form of a physical, hard-hitting fist-fight. Suzuki was surgical in his attack, going after Styles right arm in a series of tendon-stretching submissions and laser-focused strikes utterly neutralizing a facet that AJ would so often employ, the flying forearm. But once it seemed that AJ understood that his normal arsenal was no longer an option, he played Suzuki’s game, battering back and forth with vicious kicks, chops, slaps, and punches until he finally put away his foe with the Styles Clash.
This match was a massive test for Styles and he passed it with flying colors. Always an amazing seller, he still managed to make Suzuki look even tougher and meaner than his 49 MMA fights already did. And being that these two guys were the leaders of the two most popular stables in NJPW with Minoru leading Suzuki Gun and Styles leading The Bullet Club, this match had that big fight feel that has become so synonymous with all of AJ’s matches. There’s a good chance that both men still feel the affects of this war and it will go down as one of Styles toughest bouts and a night that he proved that he’s as tough as any guy on the planet.
2. Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura – Wrestle Kingdom 10 – 2015
Ever wonder why fans obsess over a potential Styles/Nakamura Wrestlemania 34 match? Or why the fans in St. Louis, Missouri at Money In The Bank went ballistic over the the two just merely staring each other down in the middle of the ring during the MITB match back in June? It all stems from their one and only singles match for the IWGP Intercontinental title at Wrestle Kingdom 10 in January of 2016. In what would be Styles second to last match with NJPW and Nakamura’s final singles match before leaving the company that he accomplished so much in just four weeks later, the duo put on quite simply, one of the best matches in the history of the company and left wrestling fans all over the world with hope that it could potentially happen again.
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The narrative for this match was quite simple. Styles had battled the best of the best in NJPW and at some point was victorious over all of them. Okada, Tanahashi, Suzuki, Ibushi, Katsuyori Shibata, Tetsuya Naito, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, the list goes on and on. The one mountain that AJ had not climbed however, was against “The King of Strong Style”. Having captured three IWGP Heavyweight titles, five Intercontinental titles, while also winning the 2011 G1 Climax, Nakamura was another one of the living legends in NJPW. It just made all the sense in the world for these two to throw down at what is the company’s biggest show of the year.
To say hopes were high for this match is an understatement. And any time the expectations are that high, sometimes they are not attainable. But apparently Styles and Nakamura never got that memo because when the duo got together this night at The Tokyo Dome, they put on a sure-fire top ten match in the history NJPW. Their chemistry was off the charts and the back and forth they displayed kept the 25,000 in attendance on their edge of their seats for the entire 24-plus minutes the match lasted.
In the end, it was Nakamura getting his hand raised but really, everybody won in this match. Just a month later both men were in the WWE and now over 18 months since this brilliance, they find themselves in close proximity to each other once again. Hopefully their new company gets out of their own way and allows these two to go at it. American fans deserve to see what these guys can do together as evidenced by this classic encounter.
1. Vs. Samoa Joe Vs. Christopher Daniels – Unbreakable 2005 & Turning Point 2009
Okay so we can call this a “top 11” list because these two classic triple threat matches with Joe and Daniels both deserve the #1 spot for so many reasons. For one, they’re both absolutely incredible clashes. They’re two of the best triple threat matches of all time with three of the most immensely talented superstars in the history of the wrestling industry.
The first match, set during the glory days of TNA’s X-Division, found all three men in the throes of the championship scene and all continued to run into each other time and time again. First it was Styles meeting Daniels in February of 2005 at Against All Odds (#10 on this list). That was followed up by Daniels beating AJ for the belt the following month in an Ultimate X match at Destination X. Then, in August, just two months after being signed to TNA, Joe defeated Styles in the finals of the Super X Cup making “The Samoan Submission Machine” the #1 contender to Daniels. However, Styles refused to go away and it only made sense to put all three men together in a match that had TNA fans foaming at the mouth to see.
The match, which took place at October’s Unbreakable was everything that everyone thought it would be and would become known as TNA’s most legendary match of all time. For three guys who always had great chemistry while battling each other, this classic was a testament to that as they, for nearly 23 minutes went back and forth with action that left fans unable to take their eyes off. The fans seem to know what they were witnessing and they basked in the moment through non-stop ups and downs. Styles would walk out with the belt that night but that didn’t really matter. There was so much more going on this match then just winners and losers.
Guess what? Over four years later the trio would do it all over again. And was the second time around as good as the first? Not quite, but it was very close. And on that night at Turning Point 2009, the fans got to see a return to “The Golden Era” of TNA, something that was slowly but surely going away as the company tried to become more mainstream.
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These matches and the feuds with both Joe and Daniels defined what Styles would eventually become. And that is quite possibly the greatest professional wrestler to ever grace the ring. And when it’s all said and done, it was these wars that changed Styles career immeasurably and he may not be where he is now without them.