The times I've seen AJ Styles Wrestle Live!

I'm not 100% convinced that we have seen the last of AJ Styles in the ring.  He said that 2026 would be his last year in wrestling, but to have his final match in Saudi Arabia at Royal Rumble seems wrong.  I would love to see him tour the indies, maybe return to New Japan, TNA, ROH, and even an AEW match or two.

While I do recall his matches at the end of WCW, I became a fan of AJ Styles thanks to his matches in TNA where is fine tuned his skills and became the Phenomenal One.  I followed him to New Japan, Ring of Honor and into the WWE.  In recent years he's been one of the few wrestlers in WWE whose matches I always make a point of watching. 

In this blog post we will look at the times I have seen AJ Styles wrestling in person.    

April 21, 2007

Big Time Wrestling, State College Athletic Center, Framingham, Massachusetts

“Hurricane” John Walters defeated “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles by DQ when Christopher Daniels ran in attacking Walters.

This was the one year anniversary event for Big Time Wrestling.  It was a loaded card with other matches including Christopher Daniels vs. Jay Lethal for the Big Time Wrestling Championship, as well as Eddie Edwards, King Kong Bundy, and Velvet Sky then known as Talia Madison.  Also NWA World Champion Christian Cage did a meet and greet.  

This was a tremendous match!  Walters was hitting all cylinders and AJ's never really had an off night.  It was the main event of the show, and Daniels causing the DQ was the right finish.

June 24, 2007

TNA Wrestling, The Casino Ballroom, Hampton Beach, New Hampshire

World Tag Team Champions: Team 3D: Brother Ray & Brother Devon defeated AJ Styles & Christopher Daniels

This was my first even TNA Live event and even though it was a six sided ring, it was a very small ring.  Before the show we met Michael Shane outside, during the show I got photos with Jeremy Borash, referee Andrew Thomas, Hernandez, and even Terry Taylor.

I was excited to see Styles and Daniels wrestle has a tag team, they have great chemistry and the Dudley's could still go at this time. 

December 4, 2009

TNA Wrestling, Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine

World Heavyweight Champion: “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles pinned Christopher Daniels after a styles clash

To date this is the only TNA wrestling event in Maine.  We had awesome seats for the show as we managed to get second row on the aisle.  Was very happy to see Styles wrestle as world champion in this match.  These two put on a fantastic match really going all out on a packed show. 

I can't find my photos for this show, which is a bit frustrating.  

April 25, 2014

MainEvent Wrestling, Parks & Rec Center, Bangor, Maine

“Phenomenal” AJ Styles & Heavyweight Champion: Mark Moment w/ Lizzie Raze battled to a time limit draw

This was during the very brief window when AJ had left TNA and was doing some independent shows. Just a few days before this show he made his ROH return, and 8 days after this show, he defeated Kazuchika Okada in Fukuoka to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship!

AJ was his normal Phenomenal self, Moment, he did his best to keep up, but it's AJ Styles for crying out loud!  This went to an all too short 20 minutes time limit draw, which was for the best considering Moment's conditioning. 

March 16, 2018

WWE, Madison Square Garden, New York City

Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Kevin Owens with Sami Zayn by Disqualification - this was supposed to be Nakamura & WWE Champion: AJ Styles vs. Owens and Zayn in a tag match when Styles was injured pre-match - Styles ran in and made the save for Nakamura

This was my first time going to Madison Square Garden, I had been wanting to go for years, we had always talked about going and finally just did.  You can read my blog post about it here: My Madison Square Garden Adventure.  AJ was advertised to wrestle on the show, they ran an injury angle and it was a singles match.  He did make the save at the end. 

July 9, 2018

WWE, The Civic Center, Augusta, Maine

No Disqualification: WWE Champion: AJ Styles pinned Shinsuke Nakamura

This was the last time I saw AJ wrestle live, you can read about it here: WWE House Show July 9, 2018.  It's funny that only 4 months after I was supposed to see them team together here they are fighting each other in a no DQ match for Styles WWE Championship.

To me AJ will go down as one of the greatest to ever wrestle.  I do wish I would have had the chance to see him wrestle live more often.  I feel lucky I was able to see him defend both the TNA and WWE Worlds Championships. 

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books. 

Celles Qui Luttent Wrestling Documentary

Celles Qui Luttent or Sisters of Wrestling is a documentary by Sarah Baril Gaudet that follows French Canadian women wrestlers Azaelle, Loue O'Farrell, and Lufisto.  The film is primarily in French with English subtitles is an all too short 68 minutes, with an official release date was November 17, 2023 at the Montreal International Documentary Festival.  The director was inspired to make this feature after attending a Femmes Fatales event in Ottawa.   

Each of the woman featured have their own segments where we are introduced to who they are, get to view a part of their private lives and learn about their passion for pro wrestling.  Sprinkled through out the documentary are clips of matches, including some older ones for Lufisto, and we watch them go through the process of putting a match together. 

I'm not going to give away too much because I want people to watch this documentary because it's well worth your time.  The documentary cuts between the 3 with Azaelle sharing her concerns with pregnancy, Loue being a single mom and balancing wrestling and life, and they both share the financial struggles being being an independent wrestler.  

What is also unique is that we get look at a months long feud over the FCL Women's Championship between Azaelle and Loue with promos and match footage that rolls through the entirety of the documentary.

Where as Loue and Azaelle are friends and appear on the same shows, Lufisto has been wrestling much longer and does not appear of those shows.  Lufisto's struggles are different as she is nearing the end of her career, having spent nearly 30 years in wrestling, and doesn't seem satisfied with what she has accomplished.

We get footage of Lufisto with current WWE wrestlers:

May 18, 2004 a Three Way: Kevin Steen defeats El Generico and Lufisto

CWE Anger Management 101, Universite Concordia, Montreal, Quebec

As well as clips of Lufisto's early hardcore wrestling days: 

March 3, 2002 Three Way Tables: Jason defeats Precious Lucy and Scream

FLQ Plus, Montreal, Quebec

January 5, 2000 Precious Lucy vs. Amanda Storm, Augusta Civic Center, Maine

I first saw Lufisto in my home state of Maine in 1999 as Precious Lucy the manager of "Centerfold" Steve Ramsey, and later as a competitor in the ring for EWA.  I used to chat with her in the locker room and about her hardcore matches and where she wanted to go as a wrestler.  She last appeared in the EWA in 2000, and I didn't see her again in person until 2019 when I went to C4 in Ottawa.

September 20, 2019 at C4 Ottawa, Ontario

Since then she has wrestled in Limitless Wrestling a few times and I saw her compete for AEW for AEW Dark.

April 6, 2022 AEW Agganis Arena, Boston

Limitless Wrestling May 28, 2022 Yarmouth, Maine

My Lufisto trading card collection

I've been a fan of Loue O'Farrell for many years because of Tabarnak de Team from their appearances in Limitless Wrestling.  There is so much wrestling to watch there isn't enough time to watch all of it.  So if I find someone or a tag team that I like I will follow them and watch the shows they are on and that is how I first saw Loue O'Farrell.

I can't speak enough on just how good Loue is in the ring, her 729 day reign as the NSPW Junior Heavyweight Champion was a declaration of how good she is.  One of the struggles they discuss in the film is how being Canadian makes it difficult get noticed and to be able to work in the thriving United States wrestling scene.

December 7, 2024 NSPW Quebec City

I had the opportunity to see Loue wrestling live for the first time in December 2024 when I traveled to Quebec City to watch NSPW.  I learned about documentary from following Loue on Instagram as she shared information about it.  

After the show Loue signed my trading card and we had fantastic conversation about wrestling, her participation with the wrestling exhibit at the museum and more.  A fantastically nice person.

 

When I learned about the documentary I needed to see it.  I wasn't able to stream it online because it wasn't available in the United States to stream.  I attempted to buy the DVD online, however shipping from both retailers was over $40!!  My son and I traveled to Quebec City in January 2026 for our Canadian Hockey weekend and went to NSPW again.  I went to the SPIRA offices and bought the DVD direct from them.

I saw Azaelle for the first time at the December 2024 NSPW show a well, she was in the pre-show match.  At the January 2026 show she was in a featured tag team match that I thoroughly enjoyed.

January 10, 2026 NSPW Quebec City

I chatted with her at intermission and she also signed my trading card and the DVD.  I was hoping to get Loue to sign the DVD as well, she was at the show for a promo but she didn't come out, next time.  

Azaelle could not have been nicer and I hope she too is able to find success in wrestling.  From when the documentary was filmed in 2022 & 2023 to today she has clearly worked hard and cut weight.

  

I was very excited to get home and watch the documentary, and it did not disappoint!  It is very well done, you get attached to each of them and route for their success.  I wish it was longer.  I would have loved some bonus footage on the DVD.   

Using cagematch I was able to find figure out the dates and locates of the match footage that was shown in the feature.  There are matches from, NSPW: North Shore Pro Wrestling, FCL: Federation Canadienne de Lutte, IWS: International Wrestling Syndicate, and C4: Capital City Championship Combat.  I have listed the matches in the order that they appear in the documentary.

February 18, 2023

NSPW Le Diamant, Montreal, Quebec

NSPW Champion Matt Falco defeated Travis Toxic

March 18, 2023

NSPW Show Mystere, Quebec City, Quebec

Azaelle defeats Jeff Saunders with Giovanni by disqualification

April 2, 2022

FCL: Centre Christ Roy, Shawinigan, Quebec

FCL Women's Champion: Azaelle wrestled Loue O'Farrell to a draw

April 23, 2022

IWS Know Your Enemies 2022, Club Soda, Montreal, Quebec

Lufisto pinned Kristara

July 28, 2022

NSPW Thursday Night Wrestling, Centre Horizon, Quebec City, Quebec

No Disqualification: Loue O'Farrell & Melanie Havok defeat Jason Petitclerc & Michael Style

September 17, 2022

NSPW 400e Show, Centre Horizon, Quebec City, Quebec 

Three Way: Travis Toxic defeated Loue O'Farrell and Zak Patterson pinning Loue

April 22, 2022

C4 Time And Tide, St. Anthony's Hall, Ottawa, Ontario,

The Tiger And The Wolf: Holden Albright & Kobe Durst defeated LuFisto & Mathieu St-Jacques when Albright pinned Lufisto

May 14, 2022

FCL Finale De La Saison, Centre Christ Roy, Shawinigan, Quebec

Best Two Out Of Three Falls: Loue O'Farrell defeated FCL Women's Champion: Azaelle to win the championship

March 4, 2023

NSPW Vs. Femmes Fatales Snowstorm Edition, Centre Horizon, Quebec City, Quebec

Loue O'Farrell, Stu Grayson & Travis Toxic defeated James Stone, Pee Wee & Vanessa Kraven

If you are a wrestling fan, you should take the time to watch this as it's well worth your time.

If you want to read my blog posts about my C4 and two NSPW shows here you go:

C*4 Wrestling "Undisputed" Live Report 9/20/2019

2024 Quebec Wrestling Adventure

2026 Canada Hockey & Wrestling Adventure

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Never Appeared in The WWF/WWE

I know what you are thinking, they are thousands of wrestlers that have never appeared in the WWWF, WWF, and WWE in their careers.  I'm going to focus on those that had significant territory runs in the 1970's and 1980's but never found their way into a New York ring.  While Kerry Von Erich had a run as the Texas Tornado, his brothers David and Kevin Von Erich had matches at Madison Square Garden.  I wrote about it in my post from 2017 They Wrestled in The WWE?

The Midnight Express

"Loverboy" Dennis Condrey, "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton, and "Sweet" Stan Lane

Bobby Eaton was the inspiration for this blog post.  Bobby debuted in 1976 and wrestled a full time schedule through early 2000 and continued to wrestle regularly until his last match in 2016.  He was a member of the Midnight Express from 1983 through last 1990.  He held multiple tag team championships and a few singles titles.  He was signed by the WWF as a trainer in their developmental territories of Power Pro Wrestling, Heartland Wrestling Association and Ohio Valley Wrestling, and even had matches, but never in a WWE ring.

Dennis Condrey began his wrestling career in 1973, wrestling full time until 1989, returning to ring in 2004 wrestling periodically through 2011.  An original member of the Midnight Express in 1980, Eaton joined the team in 1983, competing in the infamous Starrcade 86 Skywalkers match.  He left the team in 1987.  He won numerous regional tag team championships and is thought of one of the best tag team wrestlers.

Stan Lane debuted in 1978 and first retired from the ring in 1993.  Returning to the ring in 1999 wrestling periodically through 2008.  Lane was a member of numerous successful tag teams including The Fabulous Ones, The Midnight Express, and The Heavenly Bodies winning numerous tag team championships including NWA World and Unites States tag team championship.  Stan Lane was a member of the WWF broadcast team from 1993 - 1995 providing color commentary on WWF Superstars and WWF Wrestling Challenge, and doing voice over work for Coliseum Home Video exclusive matches.  However, never competed in a WWF ring.

Jimmy "Jam" Garvin

Jimmy Garvin began his wrestling career in 1968 wrestling steady through 1994 and having his final match in 2000.  For much of his career he was accompanied to the ring by his wife Precious.  He became a member of the Fabulous Freebirds in 1989 capturing the NWA & WCW World and WCW United States Tag Team Championships with Michael Hayes.  He competed in numerous territories including Florida, Georgia, Jim Crockett Promotions, World Class, the AWA and more.  Even though he never competed in a WWE ring he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016 as a member of the Fabulous Freebirds.

Ole Anderson

Proud member of the Minnesota Wrecking Crew and one of the original members of the Four Horsemen, Ole began his career in 1967 tour the territories of the NWA and competing in the AWA.  Granted when Vince Jr. bought the WWF and began his expansion in 1983 and how he "stole" Georgia Championship Wrestling from him there was no way he was going to compete for McMahon.  However there was plenty of time for him to wrestle for Vince Sr. and he did not.  Ole held numerous tag team championships, and is a legendary figure in the NWA.

Nikita Koloff

The Russian Nightmare wrestled from 1984 - 1992, was a top attraction in Jim Crockett Promotions as the heel in his feud with Magnum TA and their best of 7 series for the NWA United States Championship, and later a babyface teaming with Dusty Rhodes after Magnum's career ending car crash.  Koloff also a multi-time NWA World Tag Team Champion.  Even though he never competed in the WWE he is recognized in their United States Championship title history. 

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.