Revisiting Larry Csonka’s Reviews of AJ Styles Matches

Steve Cook: Today marks the sixth anniversary of the death of one of 411MANIA’s most important figures, Larry Csonka. As the years pass, many of the wrestlers that Larry wrote about fade into retirement. When I think of all the wrestlers that have retired in the last twelve months, I’m pretty sure Larry wrote more about AJ Styles than any of them. Larry started writing about TNA when AJ was one of the top stars. When Larry started getting deeper into New Japan, AJ was one of the top stars. Then AJ went to WWE and was again one of the top stars.

I thought it would be neat to look back at some of AJ Styles’ greatest matches through the words of Larry Csonka. Looking in the archives, I’ve found some of AJ’s best matches with some of his fiercest rivals during his wrestling career. Today we celebrate both our friend Larry and one of the best pro wrestling careers in recent memory.

We’ll start with Larry’s earliest review of an AJ Styles match! It was Larry’s second TNA recap for 411, and the first-ever King of the Mountain Match! AJ was one of four men challenging Ron “The Truth” Killings for the NWA World Championship, here’s Larry’s review:

Match #6 Jeff Jarrett vs. AJ Styles vs. “Wild Cat” Chris Harris vs. Raven vs. Ron “The Truth” Killings © (King of the Mountain Match: If you pin a man, that man has to go into the “Penalty Box” for 2-minutes. The man that made the pin can try to climb a ladder and hang the NWA Title, if he does, he wins the match and is the NEW NWA Champion. He is eligible to do this the entire match. 3 refs; there is one in the ring, another on the outside, one by the Penalty Box, and Vince Russo to keep control. Falls count anywhere. NO DQ.)

Here we are, Jeremy Borash is out to do the intros. Who will represent TNA going into the IMPACT era? We are about to find out.

AJ and JJ brawl to the outside, and Harris and Killings are in the ring. Killings tries an AX kick, but Raven pulls him out. Harris dives onto both men! AJ and JJ in the ring now, nice reversal series and a sweet drop kick by AJ. Styles runs, and leaps to the top rope and nails an AWESOME FLIP DIVE OVER THE PENALTY BOX ONTO Raven, Harris and Killings! Raven and Killings in the ring, Harris climbs to the top of the penalty box, and clotheslines both men! Styles and JJ fight on the ramp. Harris and Killings alone in the ring now, and they go to the floor. JJ and AJ back in, cross body to AJ gets 2. JJ tries a German, reversal by AJ and JJ escapes, STROKE to AJ for 2! Roll up by JJ gets 2. Crowd is hot! AJ rolls up JJ, into a Styles clash for 3! JJ to the Penalty Box, and AJ can try and climb the ladder! AJ has the ladder and the belt, he tries to climb, but Harris is in. Raven slams the ladder into AJ’s head! Harris SPEARS Raven and gets the 3! He can not climb the ladder! Raven to the Penalty Box with JJ. Raven and JJ are planning, as Harris and AJ fight it out in the ring. AJ tosses Harris to the floor, and he tries to climb. Killings is back in. He climbs the ladder, and grabs the belt, they fight it over, and both fall to the floor. JJ is back in. Harris tries to pick up the belt, and Killings gets the AX kick for 3! Killings is eligible to climb the ladder, and Harris to the Penalty Box. Raven and Harris fight in the cage, but Raven’s time is up. JJ powerbombs Killings off the ladder! JJ whips Killings to the ladder in the corner. Raven and JJ double whip AJ onto the ladder. JJ has the ladder, and kills AJ and Killings with it. Raven is
getting tables now. Raven and JJ grab the ladder, and nail Killings with the ladder, then to AJ. JJ with a face buster to AJ on the ladder and Harris is out of the Penalty Box. Raven goes to get another table, JJ gets the ladder and nail Killings and AJ again. They have AJ on the ladder, and dump him over the top to the floor! JJ and Raven talk, Raven doesn’t look pleased and they start to fight! Drop toehold to J on the steel chair! Harris is in, and takes out Raven with a clothesline. Flying fore arm by Killings to JJ. Harris and v go for the double 10-punch count on Raven and JJ. Everyone to the floor now, and Harris and Raven fight back in the crowd. Killings has the ladder, and gets the belt from Russo. He starts to climb. and AJ with a Missile dropkick to take Killings down! AJ has the belt, and starts to climb. JJ grabs him for a power bomb, but AJ gets a RAN and they both go to the floor. Harris in now, and he tries to climb. He has the belt and is close. Raven is in and throws powder into Harris’s eyes then pins Harris. Raven is able to climb the ladder, and Harris back to the Penalty Box. Killings is in, and takes raven to the floor. JJ clips Killings leg, takes Killings to the apron, and gives him the stroke to the STEEL RAIL! He pins him, and they are ALL able to climb with the belt. Russo doesn’t want to give JJ the belt, and AJ rolls him up, and JJ is pinned and has to go back to the Box. AJ and Raven are in the ring, the tables are set up now. Harris is out of the box now, and Harris and Raven push the ladder and AJ falls into the PENALTY BOX! OUCH! Raven has the belt and climbs, Harris climbs as well. Harris punches away, he grabs the belt and Raven falls off through the table! Killings back in and shoves off Harris through another table! JJ is back in the ring now. Killings climbs the ladder and JJ has the guitar and WAFFLES KILLINGS! JJ climbs and tries to hang the belt. Part of the hook came off, and AJ climbs..but JJ hangs the belt and is the NEW NWA Heavyweight Champion @ 20:10.

Some chick in a white outfit comes out, and we fade. (Editor’s Note: This was Gorgeous George, most known in wrestling for appearing alongside “Macho Man” Randy Savage during his run in 1999 WCW when he wore all black and was accompanied by George, Madusa & Miss Madness. I remember enjoying her match with Charles Robinson at Slamboree for what it was. She made a grand total of two TNA appearances, apparently she was going to manage Jarrett but plans changed.)

Hot match. The concept seemed confusing to me at first, but actually played out well. They all busted their asses, and it made for a hot match.

SC: Jarrett would hold the NWA World Championship until May 15, 2005 when he lost it to…AJ Styles. Styles lost it a month later in the annual King of the Mountain Match and was sent back to the X Division to have tremendous matches with the likes of Christopher Daniels & Samoa Joe. AJ had countless classics with both men, but none were quite as well-regarded as the triple threat match they had at Unbreakable 2005. Here’s Larry with the recap:

Match #9 Three Way X Division Title Match: Christopher Daniels © vs. AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe: Daniels talks shit and AJ and Joe kick the shit out of him! Chops by Joe and then forearms by AJ. Slam by Joe and a stiff kick. AJ says he will show him and kicks Daniels! They play one-ups-man-ship and beat the holy hell out of Daniels! The crowd loves it. AJ gets a quick roll up on Joe for 2. And again for 2. Crazy rings of Saturn variation by Joe and Daniels is back in. Leg lariat by Daniels to AJ. Joe over to beat down Daniels and gets a swank Enziguri to Daniels! Daniels to the floor and Joe works over AJ. DEAR LORD he kicked AJ in half. Daniels trips up Joe and works over AJ. Then a right to Joe and a bulldog/spin kick combo to AJ and Joe and Daniels covers AJ for 2. Joe back in control on Daniels and has AJ and Daniels in opposite corners. Whips AJ and Daniels moves, and tries to chop away at Joe. Forearms by Joe and Daniels charges and eats a ST JOE! Tilt a whirl head scissors by AJ to Joe. Kick by AJ to Joe, forearms and then Joe kills him with a belly to belly into the corner! Face wash by Joe. OLAY is broken up by Daniels and Joe to the floor. Split legged moonsault to Joe on the floor. Daniels and Joe battle and AJ is up…SPRINGBOARD SHOOTING STAR PRESS TO BOTH MEN ON THE FLOOR! SWEET JESUS! Crowd going wild! AJ and Joe back in the ring and AJ covers for 2. Off the ropes and Joe refuses, AJ with the swank dropkick sequence gets 2. Daniels back in as AJ picks Joe up. Daniels nails AJ and Whips him to the corner. He whips Joe, reversal and Daniels monkey flips AJ into Joe and AJ gets a RANA out of it! Daniels rolls up AJ for a quick 2. Daniels tosses AJ and he FLIES to the floor! Daniels with a high knee to Joe. Rights to Joe now and Joe fights back rapid fire! Knees of death! Daniels with a roll up…REAR NAKED CHOKE BY JOE! AJ up top…SPIRAL TAP TO BOTH MEN to break it up! AJ covers Joe for 2. Covers Daniels for 2. Daniels tosses AJ back to the floor and focuses on Joe. Knees to Joe, and the STO by Daniels. AJ back in…BME, but AJ crotches Daniels. Tree of Woe on Daniels, and AJ Kicks away at him…RUNNING KNEE OF DOOM by Joe! Running basement dropkick by Joe to Daniels! “This is Awesome” chants. Dropkick by Joe, running senton to AJ and Joe gets 2! Knees by Joe to Daniels. Daniels has Joe up…DEATH VALLEY DRIVER TO JOE…1…2…AJ breaks it up. Chops by AJ to Daniels. Suplex try, reversal and AJ to the apron. On the floor, AJ misses a moonsault, to his feet and JOE WITH A NO HANDS SPINNING PLANCHA TO BOTH MEN! HOLY SHIT! AJ and Daniels look dead. Daniels tossed back in and Joe follows. Joe has him in the corner… Daniels set up top…Muscle Buster try, AJ in…he and Daniels fight up top…Joe up…DOUBEL BACK BODY DROP by Joe! Joe has AJ and they exchange forearms. AJ on fire, Joe fights back! SICK release German by Joe! AJ set up top…MUSCLE BUSTA TO AJ! POWERSLAM to Daniels who had the title belt! Joe has the belt and the ref tries to take it and Daniels gets an Enziguri to the belt to the head of Joe! Joe to the floor and Daniels has AJ up. Forearms to AJ. AJ fights back and Daniels tries a German, reversal and a BLUE THUNDA DRIVA BY DANIELS gets 2! Uranage by Daniels to AJ and BEST MOONSAULT EVER to AJ! 1…2…JOE IS BACK! Killer kicks to Daniels. Jawbreaker by Daniels to Joe. Last Rights to Joe who falls to the floor. Rights by Daniels to AJ. Off the ropes, boot by AJ, Asai DDT to Daniels gets 2! AJ is up, Joe climbs back in and AJ up top… Daniels up and nails him. Daniels up top with him…SUPERPLEX to AJ! Everyone is down. Joe covers Daniels and gets 2. Covers AJ and gets 2. Joe with a powerbomb to Daniels, into the STF! Daniels gets the ropes and AJ gets to his feet. Joe has Daniels, jabs away at him. Forearms to AJ. PELE kick to Joe! Torture Rack by AJ to Joe! AJ slams him down and gets 2! Daniels with head butts to AJ now. AJ slammed onto Joe by Daniels. Reversal and a roll up into the CLASH by AJ to Daniels! 1…2…NO! Joe saves the match! Joe tosses AJ to the floor and Joe charges, but Daniels moves and Joe flies to the floor. AJ back in and Daniels has him. Rights to AJ. AJ fires back. Rapid fire by AJ, and an eye poke by Daniels. Off the ropes and Angels Wings reversed and AJ gets a roll up and WINS!

Winner: and NEW X Champion AJ Styles @ 23:00 via pin
Ladies and Gentlemen: in my opinion our match of the year so far.

SC: We jump ahead several years in the timeline. While Styles remained one of TNA’s focal points, Larry had other 411Mania-related matters to tend to. During AJ’s tenure with TNA, he would become a six-time X Division Champion, a six-time Tag Team Champion, a two-time Legends/Television Champion and a five-time World Champion. Styles was a key part of TNA’s first eleven years of existence, but he couldn’t stay there forever. AJ’s final Bound For Glory match took place in 2013, and he went out with a bang. Here’s Larry reviewing AJ’s challenge for the TNA World Championship:

NO DQ TNA World Title Match: Bully Ray © w/Brooke vs. AJ Styles: And here we go with our main event of the evening. Lock up to begin, to the corner and Ray breaks clean after making Styles flinch. Ray talks shit and then slams Styles to the mat. Another big slam by Ray, and Styles backs off to a corner. Ray works the arm now, working a slow and deliberate pace thus far. Styles counters out, tries to work the arm but eats a huge clothesline by Ray. Ray then talks more shit to Styles, saying Styles is afraid and that this is not his night. Styles gets fired up and lands rights, off the ropes and connects with the dropkick. Styles gets the calf killer, and Garett Bischoff is out for the distraction 4-minutes in. Styles chases him as Ray gets the hammer. Bischoff backs off and Styles returns to the ring, Styles counters the hammer shot and picks it up. Tries to use it but fails as Ray chops him down. Ray slams Styles to the corner, more chops follow. Clubbing shots by Ray follows and then more chops drop Styles. Ray then mocks the Hogan ear cup pose. More chops by Ray, slaps Styles and talks shit. Styles challenges him to chop him again and Ray does. More chops, Styles keeps bouncing back and has a hand mark on his chest already. Styles fires back and then Ray kills him with a clothesline. Styles with rights, leg kicks follow and then a basement dropkick to the knee. Knux is out now, catches Styles and chokeslams him. Ray covers for 2. Ray yells at the ref and Knux, Styles sucks and Ray clotheslines Knux. Roll up gets 2 for Styles. Strikes by Styles, but Ray gets a right and Styles is down. Boot by Ray sends Styles to the floor. Ray follows to the floor, and slams Styles to the announcer’s table. Crowd chants for tables. Ray has the hammer but Styles with an enziguri to stop that. Ray is laid out on a table and Styles has the hammer. He drops it, slams Ray to the table and goes up top. Styles CRASHES AND BURNS ON A 450 OFF THE TOP AND THROUGH THE TABLE!!!!!! Ray gets a knife from Taz and Ray starts to disassemble the ring. He then exposes the wood under the ring mat and padding. ECW chants for Ray now as Styles slowly tries to get back into the ring. Ray calls for the troops to come and help, and here comes Dixie Carter. She calls for a chair and hands it to Ray. Styles flies into the ring and gets the Superman forearm into the chair! Springboard 450 by Styles connects! 1…2… Dixie Carter stops the ref from counting. Ray eventually kicks out. Styles looks for the clash, but Ray backdrops him onto the exposed wood. Ray lays the boots to him and heads to the second rope. Ray leaps off and hits the backsplash! Carter slaps and Ray covers for 2. Ray lays in chair shots to the back of Styles now, picks him up and tries for the powerbomb, countered and Styles hits the PELE! Styles nails Ray with a chair shot to the head, and heads up top. SPIRAL TAP connects! 1…2…3!
OFFICIAL RESULT: AND NEW CHAMPION AJ Styles @ 21:00 via pin
RATING: ***½ {Uneven at times, but I felt that they worked a deliberate and very physical style to differentiate themselves from the rest of the card and told a solid story. Crazy bump by AJ on that table spot, but the right result overall.}

SC: After leaving TNA, AJ split time between Ring of Honor & New Japan Pro Wrestling. To be honest, TNA never got the same respect that ROH & NJPW got from Internet fans during this period. AJ did a lot there, but the surroundings had a tendency to make fans tune out. Leaving TNA and stepping his game up in the process brought Styles’ star to a new level. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find as many Larry reviews of ROH & New Japan as I was hoping! I remember hearing him talk about the feds all the time, especially New Japan. I was able to find a couple, including AJ’s challenge for the ROH World Championship at Final Battle 2015:

ROH Title Match: Champion Jay Lethal w/Truth Martini and Taeler Hendrix vs. AJ Styles: This is a great main event on paper, with the story that AJ has never won the ROH Title. The question is how healthy is he, due to the fact that he’s been working through a back injury. Let’s hope that the DDP Yoga helped. They worked a slow and basic beginning, with Styles outwrestling Lethal and connecting with the dropkick and then the knee drop. So far AJ is moving well and not showing any issues. Lethal started to get some momentum but Styles scored with the calf killer, forcing Lethal to the ropes. A Truth Martini distraction allowed Lethal to slam Styles to the apron, and take control of things. Lethal then started to work the back, slamming Styles to the barricade several times. That’s awful bold of Styles to take all things considered. Back in the ring, Lethal continued his assault on the back of Styles. Styles tried to fight back and went for the Asai DDT, but lethal countered into an overhead suplex into the buckles, which got a near fall. Lethal then worked a standing bear hug, Styles escaped and slowly started to make his comeback with clotheslines. Styles then got some payback with a suplex into the buckles, and then went for the springboard Superman, but Lethal countered with the Lethal combination for a near fall. They both started to sell the effects of the match, with Styles finally getting the neck breaker for a near fall. Styles would try for the clash, but had issues due to his back, allowing lethal to hit a pop up neck breaker, which got 2 on the cover. Lethal then dropkicked Styles to the floor, and hit a suicide dive, sending Styles into the barricade. He then it another dive, which sent Styles into the crowd. Lethal tried for a third dive, but Styles jumped out of the crowd and ht the flying forearm. That was a cool counter. Back in the ring we got a striking exchange and then the koji clutch from Lethal, which Styles then countered into the calf killer. After Lethal escapes, they worked up top, but after Styles slid out he ate a Lethal injection for a near fall. Styles then hit a PELE and bloody Sunday, looked for the clash but Lethal tossed him over the top and THROUGH a table at ringside! Fucks sake AJ. They teased the countout, but Styles made it in at 19. Lethal injection connects, but Styles kicks out at 2 for a great near fall. Lethal yelled at Styles, who fired up and after several strikes missed the PELE, leading to a series of reversals and the cradle piledriver from Lethal, and then the Lethal injection for the win. Overall an excellent match from these guys, especially considering the doubts surrounding Styles heading into the match. Outside of the one spot early, they kept the match clean, with a great pace and a different flow than both usually work, making it feel different and special. They worked the obvious spots with the back, which while seemingly risky, worked well and climaxed at just the right time. The win is huge as it further legitimized Lethal as champion, and sets the stage for Lethal vs. Elgin for the Tokyo Dome. The only thing missing was a cameo from Elgin at the end.

SC: AJ’s run as leader of New Japan’s Bullet Club took the faction to new heights and helped pave the way for NJPW to become more of a presence in North America. Styles was a two-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion and had several classic matches during his time there, including a match against Shinsuke Nakamura that people still talk about today as “much better than their WWE stuff”. Here’s Larry’s review:

IWGP Intercontinental Title Match: Champion Shinsuke Nakamura vs. AJ Styles: Nakamura is wearing a lovely crushed velvet top. No Bullet Club seconds for Styles, which I am thankful for. This is a first time singles meeting between the two and a highly anticipated match. The big question here is how Styles’ back is doing, he says he is good to go, and we’ll see. They worked a measured open before doing an early tease for their finishers. They both mocked each other at times, and then picked up the pace. They did a spot in the corner where Nakamura pulled Styles off the ropes, and Styles took a back bump and sold that he hurt his back again. It was a trap as he then attacked the sympathetic Nakamura from behind and took control for a short time. Nakamura countered a Styles clothesline and hit a cool back breaker, and then speared Styles into the barricade for a heat segment. Styles would make a comeback, and sold the back well as he started to take things back over. The back kept being an issue, allowing Nakamura to do more damage, but Styles avoided a boma ye and scored with the calf slicer in the center of the ring. Nakamura scored with a sweet counter into the arm bar, but Styles stacked him to escape. Styles came up short on his asai DDT, and then used a back breaker into a powerbomb for a near fall. I hated that entire sequence, as sing the back breaker made no sense after all of the work on the back and the issues Styles showed on other, simpler moves. They teased finishers at the 15-minute mark, and then Nakamura hit the boma ye off the second rope, but was too exhausted to follow up. They worked some great striking exchanges, leading to Styles hitting the PELE, and just when you thought he had control, he ate another boma ye for a near fall. Styles countered the boma ye with a knee of his own and hit a 450 splash for a near fall. Holy fuck they are building the drama so well with almost no wasted movements, it’s all so thought out and calculated. Nakamura got the jumping arm bar, Styles struggled and Nakamura turned it into a triangle. Styles then fucking Herc’d him up with one arm for the clash and got a seriously sweet near fall from that. Styles hit bloody Sunday, looked for the clash but then pulled Nakamura to the corner. Styles wanted the clash from the top, but Nakamura fought out and hit a Michinoku driver off the second rope, but it wasn’t enough. My Fucking word. Nakamura finally finished it with a boma ye to the back and then one to the face of Styles to retain. This was another excellent match (and early MOTY candidate) to help turn the show around. The best thing is that it was a completely different match than the previous one, which makes me appreciate them both for different reasons. Now it’s up to the main event.

SC: AJ made it to WWE in 2016 and wasted no time showing the doubters that he was as good as people said he was. He would become one of John Cena’s greatest opponents, they had a classic series of matches that culminated in a WWE Championship match at the 2017 Royal Rumble. Here’s Larry’s review:

WWE Championship Match: John Cena vs. Champion AJ Styles: Styles looked to work leg kicks, but Cena leveled him with a lariat and then worked him over in the corner. Styles quickly fought back, and laid into Cena with more kicks. Styles took control, mocked Cena and then missed the knee drop, Cena fired up and looked for the AA, countered and Styles hits an enziguri. Styles follows with rights, but Cena hits the shoulder block, but Styles cuts him off with a RANA and corner forearm. A diving forearm follows, Cena then hits the proto bomb and smiles. Five knuckle shuffle countered, and Styles hits the German and a wheelbarrow face buster. Styles hits a series of strikes, and Cena answers with another lariat. The five-knuckle shuffle follows, goes for the AA but Styles escapes. They work up top, Styles slips put and works the torture rack into the powerbomb for 2. Styles looks for the springboard, but Cena avoids it and hits the AA for a near fall. Cena was not happy with that, looks pissed and hits another vicious lariat for a near fall. Cena looks for another lariat, but Styles counters with the PELE. Springboard forearm by Styles hits, but only get 2. The crowd is digging this, Styles then lays in some kicks, taking control, but Cena hits an electric chair face buster; they then trade strikes center ring. Cena counters the clash, but Styles rolls into the calf crusher. Cena transitions into the STF, drags Styles back center ring but Styles counters into the STF. Cena teases tapping, but Cena powers up into the AA position, more counters follow and Cena locks in the figure four. Styles fights out, and then locks in the arm bar. Cena powers out and powerbombs Styles to escape. Cena now goes up top, but Styles counters, catching him with a powerbomb. The CLASH follows, but Cena survives! Styles then eats knees on the springboard 450. Code red by Cena follows, and that gets a near fall. Styles then hits the ushigoroshi for another near fall. Styles clash countered, and Cena then hits a cutter for the near fall. Cena sets Styles up top, looks for the super AA, hits it! 1…2…NO Styles kicks out! Cena can’t believe this shit. Cena looks for another, AA, countered, Styles clash! Styles then goes for the springboard, but is caught and Cena hits the AA and then rolls into another, finally putting Styles away. John Cena defeated Champion AJ Styles @ 24:35 via pin [****¾] This kicked all of the asses, they completely emptied the tank and hit each other with anything and everything, making this feel huge, like they were both desperate to have this title. The crowd was great, the near falls were great and Cena’s subtle facials, showing his frustration and teasing possible heelish tactics added so much to this. Styles was put over huge in defeat, he doesn’t lose anything because he survived so much of Cena’s best, kept coming and almost won. They also played well off of their past matches, with some great call back spots. These two guys have amazing chemistry, and I want to see more. Styles continues to show why many considered him one of the best for so long, delivering again. Also, Cena once again steps it up and delivers in the big match setting. I absolutely loved this.

SC: AJ made an array of enemies during his time on the SmackDown brand when he called himself “The Face That Runs The Place”. One of them was the SmackDown Commissioner at the time, Shane McMahon. Styles & Shane would face off at WrestleMania 33 in a match that many at the time said stole the show. I don’t remember if Larry said that or not, but here’s his review:

Shane McMahon vs. AJ Styles: They started this out as a regular wrestling match as promised, and then they exchanged holds before Styles took control. They then did some solid back and forth exchanges, with Shane hitting hip tosses and then posing to mock Styles. Styles already has a red mark under his eye, Shane must gave caught him with a crazy fist. Oh lord, Shane then went complete crazy fists to take control until Styles shoved him to the floor. Styles then hit the baseball slide dropkick, and Shane flew over the announce table. Back in and Styles took control, hitting the corner clothesline for a near fall. They traded strikes and then Shane cut off the springboard to take control, throwing more punches and then hitting the jumping back elbow and an overhead toss. Styles then cut him off with the ushigoroshi, teased the clash but Shane fought it off, only for Styles to roll into the calf slicer. Shane counters into a rear naked choke and an arm bar, and then an omoplata. Styles escaped, and they did a double down. Styles then stunned Shane off the ropes, but the springboard 450 was stopped as Shane caught him with a triangle choke; Shane’s been watching his Kyle O’Reilly tapes. Styles powered out into a one armed Styles clash to escape, and Shane kicked out. Back to trading strikes, the crowd is behind Styles here. We then got a ref bump. Styles followed with a PELE on Shane, and Styles then got a trashcan. Styles placed Shane in the corner, put the van on him and then went coast to coast but Shane popped up and slammed him in the face with the can. Shane then sets up Styles, and he looks to go coast to coast and connects. That gets a near fall as Styles kicks out. Shane then dismantled the commentary table, set Styles on it and then MISSED the elbow drop as Styles rolled out of the way. Back in the ring and Shane counters the springboard forearm into a DDT. Shane up top, and misses the shooting star press. Styles then followed and hit the springboard forearm and won. AJ Styles defeated Shane McMahon @ 21:30 via pin [***½] I highly question the layout of the match, doing so much, ref bump and finisher kick outs in the opener, working it like a main event doesn’t seem like the best idea. Also, Shane going 50/50 and even dominating Styles so much really didn’t sit well with me. Thankfully, Styles won. With that being said, it was entertaining and the crowd was certainly into it, but Shane’s offense and selling were laughable at times, saved by the big stunts and Styles being so good. It ended up being very good, even if I wasn’t a huge fan of the layout.

SC: Styles would be a 2-time WWE Champion for a total of 511 days, giving him the fourteenth-most days as Champion. Due to being WWE Champion when the 2017 Survivor Series took place, Styles got to take on Raw’s Universal Champion Brock Lesnar. They broke into pro wrestling around the same time and took far different routes, but they ended up having great chemistry with each other. Larry and the rest of us wanted a rematch, unfortunately that wasn’t to be. Here’s his review:

Brock Lesnar vs. AJ Styles: Lesnar attacks right away, laying in knee strikes and tossing Styles around. It’s all Lesnar early, as he’s cut off Styles and starts dragging him around. Lesnar then tosses Styles across the ring with an overhead belly to belly. Lesnar hits a German and then tosses Styles to the floor. Lesnar follows, slam Styles off of an announce table and rolls him back in. Lesnar hits release German and Styles has no idea who or where he is. Lesnar hits a running knee strike, but Styles keeps trying to pull himself up. Lesnar counters Styles’ strikes and takes him down again. Styles finally fires up, lays in strikes, but Lesnar cuts him off. Lesnar looks for an F5, but Styles escapes and Lesnar misses a knee strike, Styles attacks the knee and follows with a DDT. Styles now lays in leg kicks, the enziguri follows and then get botchy on the asai DDT and tornado DDT attempt. That wasn’t pretty. Styles hits a PELE, he springboards in and gets caught with a release German. Lesnar charges and ends up over the ropes (not pretty) and on the floor. Styles hits a slingshot forearm to the floor. Styles slams Lesnar to the steps and then hits a running forearm off of the steps. Back in and Lesnar lays in strikes, but Styles hits an enziguri. The asai moonsault connects and then Styles hits the springboard 450 but Lesnar kicks out at 2. Styles looks for the clash, but Lesnar counters but Styles rolls into the calf crusher. Lesnar fights, and starts slamming Styles’ head off the mat repeatedly to escape. Lesnar looks for the F5, Styles escapees and hits the springboard forearm for a great near fall. Styles to the apron again, springboard but Lesnar catches him and hits the F5 for the win. Brock Lesnar defeated AJ Styles @ 15:25 via pin [****] This was a great match, that would have been excellent if it wasn’t for the botchy moments, which held it back. The layout was excellent, with Styles overcoming the odds and giving Lesnar a great fight before the well-done finish. The crowd was also really into it, especially down the stretch when AJ was running wild. Had they avoided the botches on the DDT spots and when Lesnar was dumped to the floor, I would have easily called this excellent. Brock felt motivated and AJ was simply awesome. It was a ton of fun that’s for sure and had a great vibe to it throughout. I’d love to see a rematch.

SC: The Universal Championship was one of a few championships that AJ wasn’t able to win during his career. Money in the Bank 2019 saw probably his best chance to win it when he took on Seth Rollins. Two of the best went at it, and Larry reviewed it:

Universal Champion Seth Rollins vs. AJ Styles: They lockup and work to the ropes. Styles breaks clean, they lock up again and Rollins pie faces Styles. They work into counters, locking up again and Rollins works the arm. Styles counters out with an arm drag, but Rollins follows with a clothesline. He lays in chops and whips Styles to the buckles. The knee drop follows for 2. They trade and Styles cuts him off with a dropkick. He follows with kicks and a side back breaker. Rollins fires back with chops, they trade, and Rollins grounds things with strikes. The flatliner to the buckles follows. They work to the apron and Styles teases the clash, but Rollins escapes and then eats a sliding knee strike. Styles stuns him off the ropes, but Rollins rebounds with a suicide dive, Back in and Rollins dumps him and hits another suicide dive. Back in and they trade strikes, and Rollins follows with sling blade. The springboard clothesline follows for 2. Rollins follows with Kawada kicks, but Styles cut him off with an ushigoroshi. He looks for the clash, but Rollins counters out and they then trade pin attempts and Rollins hits the buckle bomb; the high fly flow follows for 2. Rollins follows with rights, takes Styles up top, follows him up but Styles fights him off and slips out and hits a German, but Rollins counters into a cradle for 2. Styles then hits the rack bomb and that gets 2. Styles to the apron, but Rollins cuts off the springboard, tripping up Styles. Rollins follows him up and hits the reverse superplex and transitions into another suplex for 2. Rollins sets for blackout, hits the superkick but Styles then counters into the calf crusher. Styles cranks back on the hold, but Rollins escapes and both men are down. Styles follows with the Asai DDT and that gets 2. Rollins hits a desperation superkick, and Styles crumbles to the mat. They trade strikes, Styles lays in leg kicks, Styles follows with a flurry and misses the PELE. Superkick by Rollins, but Styles counters blackout into the clash for a great near fall! Styles looks for the springboard forearm, but Rollins counters and hits the ripcord knee, superkick and the Blackout connects and that’s that. Champion Seth Rollins defeated AJ Styles @ 19:55 via pin [****½] This was excellent and the best thing on the show to this point with ease. The layout was strong, with good drama and the crowd was invested; it also had that sense of urgency & intensity that the card had really been lacking. This was a really great effort for their first meeting that left a lot on the bone, and hopefully we get more to see if they can improve on it. With the win, Rollins gets his run off to a strong start.

SC:: There wasn’t much that I loved about the pandemic era WWE, but I loved this match. AJ Styles going one on one with the Undertaker was something I never expected to see. I also didn’t know how Undertaker was struggling to find a finish to his career, once he met AJ he should have known he had the perfect canvas. It was a high point of a WrestleMania few will re-visit. Here’s Larry’s review of the WrestleMania 36 Night One Main Event!

Bone Yard Match: Undertaker vs. AJ Styles: We’re going to Undertaker’s Bone Yard, or, Michelle McCool’s favorite vacation spot. Styles arrives in a hearse and comes out of a coffin to call out Taker. Taker comes rollin, roillin, rollin in on his hog. Hog I said not dong. Styles talks shit about digging Taker’s grave, and calls him an old man. Taker attacks, talking shit to Styles and slamming him to the coffin. He misses a spike shot, breaking the window on the hearse and his arm is bleeding now. He slams Styles onto the windshield, they fight on top of the hearse and Taker pummels him for talking about Michelle. Styles battles back with a low blow and they trade as Taker knocks Styles into the grave. The Good Brothers arrive and they are joined by a bunch of I guess druids. They mistakenly attack one at a time, kung fu movie style so taker fights them off until the Good Brothers attack. Taker kicks their asses, hits them with shovels and Styles hits him with a tombstone, not the move, a tombstone. Styles then spears him through a wall and monologues about Taker not having it any more. Styles continues to attack and calls him a broken down old bitch. He grabs a shovel, nails him and dumps him in the grave. He uses a mini bulldozer and looks to bury him, but Taker appears behind him and kicks his ass, Styles runs away onto a roof and Taker follows. Taker summons fire and boots Styles, beats up the Good Brothers and tosses Gallows off the roof, tombstones Karl and Styles keeps fighting until he’s chokeslammed off the roof. Taker talks shit to Styles’ broken corpse and takes him to the grave as Styles begs of and tells him he’s sorry. Taker says he fought his ass off and hugs him… and kicks him into the grave. Taker then buries him in the grave to win. Undertaker defeated AJ Styles @ 18:45 via burial [****] I loved Lucha Underground, love Grind House films and dig wacky shit like this. Your mileage will vary on something like this, but when it was over, I felt like this was WWE’s best effort is doing something similar to the broken universe/Lucha Underground. It was way better than I had anticipated and better than a regular match between these two could have had at this stage. The production was great, they really leaned into the gimmick, and you really have to in order to make something like this work. Hell, AJ got to main event a Mania to boot. It’s kind of hard to rate something like this, but since I thought it was actually great, and for me **** is great, that’s what it gets.

SC: There you have it, some of AJ Styles’ greatest matches as reviewed by the legendary Larry Csonka. I think the thing he’d be surprised about most in 2026 is the number of shows I’m reviewing weekly. I’ll never claim to be the writer that Larry was, but hopefully I’ve gotten closer by trying.

Thank you, Larry.