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Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
2002
In May 2002, Styles was signed to a non-exclusive contract by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), and dubbed "The Phenomenal" A.J. Styles (a sobriquet originally coined by NWA Wildside commentator Dan "The Dragon" Wilson). He appeared on the first weekly TNA pay-per-view, teaming with Jerry Lynn and Low-Ki and losing to the Flying Elvises (Jorge Estrada, Sonny Siaki and Jimmy Yang) after he was pinned by Yang. The following week, on June 26, Styles defeated Lynn, Low-Ki and Psicosis in a double elimination match to become the first ever TNA X Division Champion. He won a second title on the third TNA pay-per-view, teaming with Jerry Lynn and defeating Lenny Lane and Bruce in the finals of a tournament for the vacant NWA World Tag Team Championship.
Styles successfully defended both his titles in the following weeks, but began to bicker with the veteran Lynn during their matches together. On August 14, he and Lynn fought Ron Killings and Jeff Jarrett to a no-contest, and the titles were held-up as a result. The following week, he and Lynn fought one another in a Falls Count Anywhere Match (which was won by Lynn), a No Disqualification Match (which was won by Styles) and a ten-minute Iron Man match, which ended in a draw after both men scored three pinfalls. On August 28, Styles defended the X Division Championship against Lynn and Low-Ki in a ladder match, and lost his title to Lynn.
Recruiting Mortimer Plumtree and Sonny Siaki as allies, Styles continued to feud with Lynn in successive weeks. On October 23, he defeated Syxx-Pac for the X Division Championship, thus becoming a two-time champion. He lost the title to Lynn a second time on November 6, and tried unsuccessfully to regain it throughout the remainder of the year.
2003
In 2003, Styles began focusing on the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. After defeating David Flair on January 15 to become the number one contender, Styles recruited the help of Larry Zbyszko and joined Vince Russo's Sports Entertainment Xtreme faction. Styles faced NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett on February 19, but was defeated. In the course of the match, Styles turned face, attacking S.E.X. as they tried to interfere on his behalf because he did not want to win in that manner.
Styles feuded briefly with Raven and Glenn Gilberti before forming a new tag team with D'Lo Brown in April 2003. During their time together, Styles learned the frog splash (Art Barr version) from D'Lo, and D'Lo likewise picked up A.J.'s suicide plancha. The tag team amiably disbanded on May 28 so that both men could pursue the NWA World Heavyweight Championship once again. They fought one another on June 4 in a number one contendership match which was won by Styles, and on June 11 Styles faced Jarrett and Raven in a three-way match for the Heavyweight Championship. Styles won the match and the title (becoming the first TNA Triple Crown winner in the process) after Vince Russo entered the ring and struck Jarrett with a guitar, then celebrated with Russo following his victory, thus turning heel once again. On June 18, 2003, at the first TNA anniversary show, Jarrett and Sting defeated Styles and his mystery partner, Syxx-Pac.
Throughout July 2003, Styles successfully defended his title in matches with D'Lo Brown. Throughout the remainder of his reign, he defeated a myriad selection of opponents before losing the title to Jarrett on October 22. Following his loss, Styles reverted to being a face, while Jarrett became a heel. Despite Jarrett's demand that Styles return to the X Division, Styles continued to pursue the World Heavyweight Championship. On November 12, he teamed with Sting to defeat Jarrett and Lex Luger. Styles faced Jarrett for the Heavyweight Championship on December 3, but lost following interference from Kid Kash.
2004
In January 2004, Styles was named "Mr. TNA" by the fans of TNA in an online poll. Styles feuded with Jeff Jarrett and Abyss throughout January and on February 4, after Styles demanded a title shot, Jarrett's ally Don Callis forced him to team with Abyss in a match with the NWA World Tag Team Champions, Kevin Northcutt and Legend. Abyss hindered Styles' efforts before abandoning him completely, but Styles managed to defeat both of his opponents nonetheless, thus becoming a two-time NWA World Tag Team Champion with Abyss as his partner. The following week, Styles defeated Abyss in a match for both tag team titles by disqualification after Jarrett interfered. His victory was overturned by Callis, leading to another match the following week which was won by Abyss after Lex Luger interfered, thus granting Abyss control of both titles. Abyss and Styles continued to feud, and on March 17 Abyss defeated Styles to become the number one contender to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
Styles returned to the X Division shortly thereafter, winning a four-way match to become the number one contender to the X Division Championship on the June 4 episode of TNA iMPACT!. On June 9, he defeated Frankie Kazarian to become a three-time X Division Champion. In the following weeks, Styles feuded with Kid Kash and Dallas while successfully defending his title in matches with Kazarian and Mr. Aguila. An additional match on June 23 with the debuting Jeff Hardy was interrupted by Kash and Dallas. On July 28, he defended the title against Kazarian and Michael Shane in an Ultimate X match. After Kash struck Styles with a crutch, Shane and Kazarian simultaneously retrieved the belt and became co-X Division Champions.
After several abortive attempts to regain the title, Styles fought Kash in a number of matches, culminating on September 8 in a tables match which was won by Styles. In October he began feuding with Petey Williams, by now the TNA X Division Champion, and on November 7 at Victory Road 2004, the first monthly pay-per-view held by TNA, Styles challenged Williams for the X Division Championship. During the weeks preceding the match, Styles even went as far as to use Williams' own finisher, the Canadian Destroyer, after Williams himself performed the Styles Clash on others. Williams retained his title with the help of his manager, Scott D'Amore. Later that night, Jeff Jarrett retained the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in a ladder match with Jeff Hardy after Scott Hall and Kevin Nash interfered in the match. Following the bout, the trio proclaimed themselves to be the "Kings of Wrestling" and issued an open challenge to the rest of the TNA roster. Several wrestlers charged the ring in response to the challenge, including the 3Live Kru, Randy Savage and Styles.
On the November 12 episode of TNA iMPACT!, Styles and Jeff Hardy teamed together to defeat The Naturals. Following the match, they were attacked by the Kings of Wrestling. After several more confrontations, Hardy, Styles and Savage teamed together to face the Kings of Wrestling at Turning Point 2004 on December 5. Despite Savage not appearing until late in the match, the Kings of Wrestling were defeated when Savage entered the match and rolled-up Jarrett.
2005
Styles returned to the X Division in 2005, and at Final Resolution on January 16, he won the X Division Championship for a fourth time in an Ultimate X match, defeating Chris Sabin and the reigning champion, Petey Williams. On the January 21 episode of iMPACT!, Christopher Daniels accused Styles of "ducking him" (Styles and Daniels had never fought one another in a singles match in TNA). After Daniels challenged Styles to a match at the next monthly TNA pay-per-view, TNA Director of Authority Dusty Rhodes announced that Styles and Daniels would fight that day, with Daniels receiving a title shot if Styles could not defeat him within ten minutes. Daniels lasted ten minutes, and subsequently faced Styles in a thirty-minute iron man match for the X Division Championship at Against All Odds in which ended in a draw with both men having scored a single pinfall. Dusty Rhodes restarted the match, albeit with "sudden death" rules, and Styles defeated Daniels to retain his title.
The feud between Styles and Daniels continued, and at Destination X on March 13, Styles lost his title in an Ultimate X Challenge against Daniels, Ron Killings and Elix Skipper. Skipper eliminated Killings and Daniels eliminated Skipper, thus reducing the match to a singles contest. With the referee unconscious, Styles was able to retrieve the belt, but Daniels knocked him out with the Angel's Wings and then embraced the title belt. When the referee recovered shortly thereafter, he saw both men prone but Daniels with the title belt, and awarded the match and the X Division Championship to Daniels.
Having lost the X Division Championship, Styles began feuding with Abyss. At Lockdown, he defeated Abyss in a steel cage match to become the number one contender to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Styles went on to defeat the defending champion, Jeff Jarrett, at Hard Justice on May 15. After Jarrett pushed the special guest referee, cage fighter, Tito Ortiz, Ortiz knocked him down with a punch, enabling Styles to hit his Spiral Tap maneuver and pin Jarrett for his third NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Styles lost the title at Slammiversary to Raven in a King of the Mountain match against Sean Waltman, Raven, Monty Brown and Abyss.
On the November 19 episode of iMPACT!, Styles challenged Samoa Joe to a match at Turning Point, claiming that Joe had broken the X Division "code of respect" by assaulting his partner, Christopher Daniels, following their match at Genesis. Joe defeated Styles at Turning Point, thus becoming the new X Division Champion.
2006
Styles won the 2005 Mr. TNA award (for the third consecutive time). During the ceremony the plaque was stolen by Shannon Moore. Styles successfully defeated New Japan Pro Wrestling wrestler Hiroshi Tanahashi in an "International X Showcase" match at Final Resolution. Shannon Moore interfered during the match, hitting Tanahashi accidentally with the plaque, allowing Styles to score his Styles Clash finisher for the victory. After the match, Tanahashi returned the plaque to Styles, but Moore stole the plaque back.
At Against All Odds, Styles and Daniels challenged Samoa Joe for the X Division Championship in a rematch of Unbreakable. Styles lost the bout when he was given a Muscle Buster by Joe, who then pinned him to retain. Samoa Joe defended the X Division Championship against Styles and Daniels in an Ultimate X match at Destination X and lost the belt to Daniels.
At Lockdown, Styles, Ron Killings, Rhino and Sting faced Jeff Jarrett, America's Most Wanted and Scott Steiner in a Lethal Lockdown match. In the course of the match, Styles placed James Storm on a table atop the cage and then climbed a ladder to a light fitting near the ceiling of the arena, then delivered a splash to the supine Storm, driving him through the table. Sting's team won the bout after Sting forced Chris Harris to submit.
Styles went on to join forces with Christopher Daniels and challenge America's Most Wanted for the NWA World Tag Team Championship. After losing to America's Most Wanted in title matches on two occasions, Styles and Daniels won the NWA World Tag Team Championship at Slammiversary. The win made Styles both a three-time tag team champion and a three time Triple Crown Champion.
On an episode of TNA iMPACT!, Styles and Daniels introduced contracts for all tag teams on the TNA roster, which sparked a rivalry with the Latin American Exchange, who signed the contracts for a match at Hard Justice which Styles and Daniels won. On the August 24 episode of iMPACT!, Homicide and Hernandez defeated Styles and Daniels in a border brawl to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship. At No Surrender Styles and Daniels defeated LAX in a Tag-Team Ultimate X Match to regain the titles after Styles hit a Styles Clash on Homicide through a table allowing his tag partner Christopher Daniels to capture the hanging belts. They lost the titles back to LAX at Bound for Glory in a Six Sides of Steel match after Homicide hit the Gringo Killer on Styles as Daniels was tied up to the cage by Konnan with a coat hanger.
On the November 2 edition of iMPACT!, he pinned Chris Sabin to begin his sixth reign as the new X Division Champion and breaking his own record as having the most reigns. The match was also the quarter-finals of the Fight For The Right tournament for #1 Contendership to Sting's NWA World Heavyweight Championship. On the November 9 iMPACT!, Styles won the semi-final match, but was pinned in the finals by Abyss after interference by Christian Cage and Sabin.
On the November 16 edition of iMPACT!, the show's debut in primetime, Styles lost the TNA X Division Championship to Daniels in a 3-way match when Daniels scored the rollup pinfall on Chris Sabin while Styles was outside of the ring dealing with Christian Cage.
On an episode of iMPACT!, Styles teamed up with Samoa Joe for the first time to go against Rhino and Kurt Angle. Styles and Joe would win after a roll up pin on Rhino by Styles, but Kurt Angle and Rhino would continue to beat down Styles and Joe. Next week, Styles would team up with James Storm and Chris Sabin to go against Petey Williams, Rhino and his former partner Christopher Daniels. Styles and his team would come out victorious when Styles pinned Daniels.
2007
At Final Resolution, Styles faced Rhino in a Last Man Standing match. After a Gore by Rhino, Styles decided to let Rhino win the match despite the fact that he was almost to his feet at one point. This was due to the fact that Styles saw that Rhino was setting up a table to use on him and didn't want to continue. Styles continued to feud with Rhino, also finding a temporary partner in NWA World Heavyweight Champion Christian Cage, helping Cage in his feud with Kurt Angle. Styles defeated Rhino at TNA Against All Odds 2007 in a Motor City Chain Match after Rhino missed a Gore.
At Destination X, AJ Styles participated in the first ever Elevation X match against Rhino. The match consisted of a 20 foot tall steel structure of an X that they used to fight each other. Styles took the fall off the Elevation X structure after Rhino hit the Gore on AJ and then stomped on his fingers while AJ was hanging on.
On the following episode of iMPACT!, he tried to assault Rhino, but was unsuccessful. It was later revealed that he was the first member of Christian Cage's team at Lockdown 2007.
Wrestling facts
Finishing moves
-Styles Clash (Belly to back inverted mat slam)
-Super Styles Clash (Second rope belly to back inverted mat slam)
-Spiral Tap (Somersault corkscrew leg drop or somersault corkscrew senton)
-Frog splash
Signature moves
-Cliffhanger (Inverted sitout side powerslam)
-Fosbury Flop (Backflip high jump no-hands plancha)
-Pelé Kick (Backflip kick)
-Phenomenon / Stylin' DDT (Springboard moonsault into inverted DDT)
-Rack Bomb (Torture rack dropped into a torture rack powerbomb)
-Shooting Styles Press (Springboard shooting star press)
-Spine Breaker (Backbreaker into gutbuster)
-Starmaker (High angle belly to back suplex)
-Styles Buster (Feint backdrop wheelbarrow facebuster)
-Styles Suplex Special (Vertical suplex into neckbreaker slam)
-Stylin' Crab (Elevated Boston crab)
-Superman Splash (Springboard 450° splash)
-Kip-up hurricanrana
-Springboard forearm strike
2002
In May 2002, Styles was signed to a non-exclusive contract by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), and dubbed "The Phenomenal" A.J. Styles (a sobriquet originally coined by NWA Wildside commentator Dan "The Dragon" Wilson). He appeared on the first weekly TNA pay-per-view, teaming with Jerry Lynn and Low-Ki and losing to the Flying Elvises (Jorge Estrada, Sonny Siaki and Jimmy Yang) after he was pinned by Yang. The following week, on June 26, Styles defeated Lynn, Low-Ki and Psicosis in a double elimination match to become the first ever TNA X Division Champion. He won a second title on the third TNA pay-per-view, teaming with Jerry Lynn and defeating Lenny Lane and Bruce in the finals of a tournament for the vacant NWA World Tag Team Championship.
Styles successfully defended both his titles in the following weeks, but began to bicker with the veteran Lynn during their matches together. On August 14, he and Lynn fought Ron Killings and Jeff Jarrett to a no-contest, and the titles were held-up as a result. The following week, he and Lynn fought one another in a Falls Count Anywhere Match (which was won by Lynn), a No Disqualification Match (which was won by Styles) and a ten-minute Iron Man match, which ended in a draw after both men scored three pinfalls. On August 28, Styles defended the X Division Championship against Lynn and Low-Ki in a ladder match, and lost his title to Lynn.
Recruiting Mortimer Plumtree and Sonny Siaki as allies, Styles continued to feud with Lynn in successive weeks. On October 23, he defeated Syxx-Pac for the X Division Championship, thus becoming a two-time champion. He lost the title to Lynn a second time on November 6, and tried unsuccessfully to regain it throughout the remainder of the year.
2003
In 2003, Styles began focusing on the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. After defeating David Flair on January 15 to become the number one contender, Styles recruited the help of Larry Zbyszko and joined Vince Russo's Sports Entertainment Xtreme faction. Styles faced NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett on February 19, but was defeated. In the course of the match, Styles turned face, attacking S.E.X. as they tried to interfere on his behalf because he did not want to win in that manner.
Styles feuded briefly with Raven and Glenn Gilberti before forming a new tag team with D'Lo Brown in April 2003. During their time together, Styles learned the frog splash (Art Barr version) from D'Lo, and D'Lo likewise picked up A.J.'s suicide plancha. The tag team amiably disbanded on May 28 so that both men could pursue the NWA World Heavyweight Championship once again. They fought one another on June 4 in a number one contendership match which was won by Styles, and on June 11 Styles faced Jarrett and Raven in a three-way match for the Heavyweight Championship. Styles won the match and the title (becoming the first TNA Triple Crown winner in the process) after Vince Russo entered the ring and struck Jarrett with a guitar, then celebrated with Russo following his victory, thus turning heel once again. On June 18, 2003, at the first TNA anniversary show, Jarrett and Sting defeated Styles and his mystery partner, Syxx-Pac.
Throughout July 2003, Styles successfully defended his title in matches with D'Lo Brown. Throughout the remainder of his reign, he defeated a myriad selection of opponents before losing the title to Jarrett on October 22. Following his loss, Styles reverted to being a face, while Jarrett became a heel. Despite Jarrett's demand that Styles return to the X Division, Styles continued to pursue the World Heavyweight Championship. On November 12, he teamed with Sting to defeat Jarrett and Lex Luger. Styles faced Jarrett for the Heavyweight Championship on December 3, but lost following interference from Kid Kash.
2004
In January 2004, Styles was named "Mr. TNA" by the fans of TNA in an online poll. Styles feuded with Jeff Jarrett and Abyss throughout January and on February 4, after Styles demanded a title shot, Jarrett's ally Don Callis forced him to team with Abyss in a match with the NWA World Tag Team Champions, Kevin Northcutt and Legend. Abyss hindered Styles' efforts before abandoning him completely, but Styles managed to defeat both of his opponents nonetheless, thus becoming a two-time NWA World Tag Team Champion with Abyss as his partner. The following week, Styles defeated Abyss in a match for both tag team titles by disqualification after Jarrett interfered. His victory was overturned by Callis, leading to another match the following week which was won by Abyss after Lex Luger interfered, thus granting Abyss control of both titles. Abyss and Styles continued to feud, and on March 17 Abyss defeated Styles to become the number one contender to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
Styles returned to the X Division shortly thereafter, winning a four-way match to become the number one contender to the X Division Championship on the June 4 episode of TNA iMPACT!. On June 9, he defeated Frankie Kazarian to become a three-time X Division Champion. In the following weeks, Styles feuded with Kid Kash and Dallas while successfully defending his title in matches with Kazarian and Mr. Aguila. An additional match on June 23 with the debuting Jeff Hardy was interrupted by Kash and Dallas. On July 28, he defended the title against Kazarian and Michael Shane in an Ultimate X match. After Kash struck Styles with a crutch, Shane and Kazarian simultaneously retrieved the belt and became co-X Division Champions.
After several abortive attempts to regain the title, Styles fought Kash in a number of matches, culminating on September 8 in a tables match which was won by Styles. In October he began feuding with Petey Williams, by now the TNA X Division Champion, and on November 7 at Victory Road 2004, the first monthly pay-per-view held by TNA, Styles challenged Williams for the X Division Championship. During the weeks preceding the match, Styles even went as far as to use Williams' own finisher, the Canadian Destroyer, after Williams himself performed the Styles Clash on others. Williams retained his title with the help of his manager, Scott D'Amore. Later that night, Jeff Jarrett retained the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in a ladder match with Jeff Hardy after Scott Hall and Kevin Nash interfered in the match. Following the bout, the trio proclaimed themselves to be the "Kings of Wrestling" and issued an open challenge to the rest of the TNA roster. Several wrestlers charged the ring in response to the challenge, including the 3Live Kru, Randy Savage and Styles.
On the November 12 episode of TNA iMPACT!, Styles and Jeff Hardy teamed together to defeat The Naturals. Following the match, they were attacked by the Kings of Wrestling. After several more confrontations, Hardy, Styles and Savage teamed together to face the Kings of Wrestling at Turning Point 2004 on December 5. Despite Savage not appearing until late in the match, the Kings of Wrestling were defeated when Savage entered the match and rolled-up Jarrett.
2005
Styles returned to the X Division in 2005, and at Final Resolution on January 16, he won the X Division Championship for a fourth time in an Ultimate X match, defeating Chris Sabin and the reigning champion, Petey Williams. On the January 21 episode of iMPACT!, Christopher Daniels accused Styles of "ducking him" (Styles and Daniels had never fought one another in a singles match in TNA). After Daniels challenged Styles to a match at the next monthly TNA pay-per-view, TNA Director of Authority Dusty Rhodes announced that Styles and Daniels would fight that day, with Daniels receiving a title shot if Styles could not defeat him within ten minutes. Daniels lasted ten minutes, and subsequently faced Styles in a thirty-minute iron man match for the X Division Championship at Against All Odds in which ended in a draw with both men having scored a single pinfall. Dusty Rhodes restarted the match, albeit with "sudden death" rules, and Styles defeated Daniels to retain his title.
The feud between Styles and Daniels continued, and at Destination X on March 13, Styles lost his title in an Ultimate X Challenge against Daniels, Ron Killings and Elix Skipper. Skipper eliminated Killings and Daniels eliminated Skipper, thus reducing the match to a singles contest. With the referee unconscious, Styles was able to retrieve the belt, but Daniels knocked him out with the Angel's Wings and then embraced the title belt. When the referee recovered shortly thereafter, he saw both men prone but Daniels with the title belt, and awarded the match and the X Division Championship to Daniels.
Having lost the X Division Championship, Styles began feuding with Abyss. At Lockdown, he defeated Abyss in a steel cage match to become the number one contender to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Styles went on to defeat the defending champion, Jeff Jarrett, at Hard Justice on May 15. After Jarrett pushed the special guest referee, cage fighter, Tito Ortiz, Ortiz knocked him down with a punch, enabling Styles to hit his Spiral Tap maneuver and pin Jarrett for his third NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Styles lost the title at Slammiversary to Raven in a King of the Mountain match against Sean Waltman, Raven, Monty Brown and Abyss.
On the November 19 episode of iMPACT!, Styles challenged Samoa Joe to a match at Turning Point, claiming that Joe had broken the X Division "code of respect" by assaulting his partner, Christopher Daniels, following their match at Genesis. Joe defeated Styles at Turning Point, thus becoming the new X Division Champion.
2006
Styles won the 2005 Mr. TNA award (for the third consecutive time). During the ceremony the plaque was stolen by Shannon Moore. Styles successfully defeated New Japan Pro Wrestling wrestler Hiroshi Tanahashi in an "International X Showcase" match at Final Resolution. Shannon Moore interfered during the match, hitting Tanahashi accidentally with the plaque, allowing Styles to score his Styles Clash finisher for the victory. After the match, Tanahashi returned the plaque to Styles, but Moore stole the plaque back.
At Against All Odds, Styles and Daniels challenged Samoa Joe for the X Division Championship in a rematch of Unbreakable. Styles lost the bout when he was given a Muscle Buster by Joe, who then pinned him to retain. Samoa Joe defended the X Division Championship against Styles and Daniels in an Ultimate X match at Destination X and lost the belt to Daniels.
At Lockdown, Styles, Ron Killings, Rhino and Sting faced Jeff Jarrett, America's Most Wanted and Scott Steiner in a Lethal Lockdown match. In the course of the match, Styles placed James Storm on a table atop the cage and then climbed a ladder to a light fitting near the ceiling of the arena, then delivered a splash to the supine Storm, driving him through the table. Sting's team won the bout after Sting forced Chris Harris to submit.
Styles went on to join forces with Christopher Daniels and challenge America's Most Wanted for the NWA World Tag Team Championship. After losing to America's Most Wanted in title matches on two occasions, Styles and Daniels won the NWA World Tag Team Championship at Slammiversary. The win made Styles both a three-time tag team champion and a three time Triple Crown Champion.
On an episode of TNA iMPACT!, Styles and Daniels introduced contracts for all tag teams on the TNA roster, which sparked a rivalry with the Latin American Exchange, who signed the contracts for a match at Hard Justice which Styles and Daniels won. On the August 24 episode of iMPACT!, Homicide and Hernandez defeated Styles and Daniels in a border brawl to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship. At No Surrender Styles and Daniels defeated LAX in a Tag-Team Ultimate X Match to regain the titles after Styles hit a Styles Clash on Homicide through a table allowing his tag partner Christopher Daniels to capture the hanging belts. They lost the titles back to LAX at Bound for Glory in a Six Sides of Steel match after Homicide hit the Gringo Killer on Styles as Daniels was tied up to the cage by Konnan with a coat hanger.
On the November 2 edition of iMPACT!, he pinned Chris Sabin to begin his sixth reign as the new X Division Champion and breaking his own record as having the most reigns. The match was also the quarter-finals of the Fight For The Right tournament for #1 Contendership to Sting's NWA World Heavyweight Championship. On the November 9 iMPACT!, Styles won the semi-final match, but was pinned in the finals by Abyss after interference by Christian Cage and Sabin.
On the November 16 edition of iMPACT!, the show's debut in primetime, Styles lost the TNA X Division Championship to Daniels in a 3-way match when Daniels scored the rollup pinfall on Chris Sabin while Styles was outside of the ring dealing with Christian Cage.
On an episode of iMPACT!, Styles teamed up with Samoa Joe for the first time to go against Rhino and Kurt Angle. Styles and Joe would win after a roll up pin on Rhino by Styles, but Kurt Angle and Rhino would continue to beat down Styles and Joe. Next week, Styles would team up with James Storm and Chris Sabin to go against Petey Williams, Rhino and his former partner Christopher Daniels. Styles and his team would come out victorious when Styles pinned Daniels.
2007
At Final Resolution, Styles faced Rhino in a Last Man Standing match. After a Gore by Rhino, Styles decided to let Rhino win the match despite the fact that he was almost to his feet at one point. This was due to the fact that Styles saw that Rhino was setting up a table to use on him and didn't want to continue. Styles continued to feud with Rhino, also finding a temporary partner in NWA World Heavyweight Champion Christian Cage, helping Cage in his feud with Kurt Angle. Styles defeated Rhino at TNA Against All Odds 2007 in a Motor City Chain Match after Rhino missed a Gore.
At Destination X, AJ Styles participated in the first ever Elevation X match against Rhino. The match consisted of a 20 foot tall steel structure of an X that they used to fight each other. Styles took the fall off the Elevation X structure after Rhino hit the Gore on AJ and then stomped on his fingers while AJ was hanging on.
On the following episode of iMPACT!, he tried to assault Rhino, but was unsuccessful. It was later revealed that he was the first member of Christian Cage's team at Lockdown 2007.
Wrestling facts
Finishing moves
-Styles Clash (Belly to back inverted mat slam)
-Super Styles Clash (Second rope belly to back inverted mat slam)
-Spiral Tap (Somersault corkscrew leg drop or somersault corkscrew senton)
-Frog splash
Signature moves
-Cliffhanger (Inverted sitout side powerslam)
-Fosbury Flop (Backflip high jump no-hands plancha)
-Pelé Kick (Backflip kick)
-Phenomenon / Stylin' DDT (Springboard moonsault into inverted DDT)
-Rack Bomb (Torture rack dropped into a torture rack powerbomb)
-Shooting Styles Press (Springboard shooting star press)
-Spine Breaker (Backbreaker into gutbuster)
-Starmaker (High angle belly to back suplex)
-Styles Buster (Feint backdrop wheelbarrow facebuster)
-Styles Suplex Special (Vertical suplex into neckbreaker slam)
-Stylin' Crab (Elevated Boston crab)
-Superman Splash (Springboard 450° splash)
-Kip-up hurricanrana
-Springboard forearm strike
