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. 

WWE Smackdown Live Report 7/9/2018

Monday night July 9th my son, cousin, and I attended the WWE Smackdown Live house show in Augusta, Maine.  The reason for the lateness of this report was that the following morning we headed out of town for the rest of the week camping and I'm just now getting some internet to write this.

The Augusta Civic Center was not sold out but there was a few thousand people in attendance.  My wrestling friends Roy, Cheryl, Phil, and Alex also went to the show, I'm sure there were a bunch of other people that I know from wrestling that were also there.

Let's get to the matches:

Triple Threat Match
United States Champion: Jeff Hardy defeated Samoa Joe & The Miz

The Miz did his beast Rick Rude impersonation calling us Augusta sweathogs and asking us to keep the noise down while he took off his robe.  Solid opening match that saw Hardy get the pin after a twist of fate and a standing splash on Miz.

Andrade "Cien" Almas with Zelina Vega pinned Sin Cara

Photo credit Philster

This match was great!  They gave us a good lucha style match with fast paced action and Sin Cara displaying some impressive aerial offense with a few dives to the floor.  This was probably the best match of the night!  I haven't thought much of Sin Cara but if he was given to chance to have longer matches like this many people would think differently of him.  Almas got the pin with his DDT finisher.

Photo credit Philster

Nikki Cross & Becky Lynch defeated The IIconics: Billy Kaye & Peyton Royce

Photo credit Philster

Cross was a surprise as she hasn't officially been called up yet to the main roster from NXT.  The IIconics came out and insulted us all before making their way to the ring.  Decent match where Nikki took the majority of the heat before making the hot tag to Becky.  Finish came when Becky submitted Peyton with the disarmer

Rusev with Aiden English submitted Tye Dillinger

Dillinger was a surprise and had he not been facing Rusev I think he would have been tremendously over.  He was getting some good "10" chants until Rusev came out.  Short solid match with Rusev winning with the Accolade.

Photo credit Philster

Six Man Tag
New Day: Big E, Xavier Woods, & Kofi Kingston defeated Sanity: Eric Young, Killian Dain, & Alexander Wolfe

I was excited to see this as a six man.  It was a good match, with expected New Day antics and comedy spots.  Canaan wanted to see a Trouble in Paradise badly, and he got one post match.

Tag Team Champions: Bludgeon Brothers: Haper & Rowan defeated The Club: Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows

This was the first match after intermission and it was bad.  Rowan worked most of the match for his team and he's just not that good.  Anderson took the fall for his team.

Women's Champion: Carmella pinned Naomi

Just terrible

Photo credit Philster

No Disqualification
WWE Champion: AJ Styles pinned Shinsuke Nakamura

This was a great match and I'm so happy that I got to see these two wrestle each other live.  It was no five star classic but they worked hard and it was extremely entertaining.  This was also the match I finally found the right setting to get okay pictures on my phone.

They used the standard house show weapons, table, chairs, and kendo stick.  Styles got the pin after a phenomenal forearm.

All in all this was a decent show with the top two matches being Almas vs. Sin Cara and AJ vs. Nakamura and the worst matches being the Tag Team and Women's title matches.  One thing that bothers me the most about house show title defenses is that I know I'm not going to see one so the finish of the match becomes a non-factor.

In the case of the AJ vs. Nakamura match it was exceptionally annoying, being a No Disqualification match the only possible outcome is AJ defeating Nakamura by pinfall or submission.

One of the coolest things for me was there were several wrestlers I had never seen wrestle in person before.

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment, read my other posts, and like my blogs Facebook page and while you're at it check out my weekly podcast Podcast of 1,000 Holds on the Nerdy Legion Podcast Network. 

Later Readers!

Title Changes Outside North America

On November 7th AJ Styles defeated Jinder Mahal to the WWE Heavyweight Championship on Smackdown that had been taped earlier in the day in Manchester, England.  It was the first time that the championship changed hands outside North America.

That got me thinking, how many other championships have changed hands outside the confines of North America.  Off the top of my head I could think of a few but not many.  I decided to look into it and this is what I discovered.

Active Championships

WWE World Heavyweight Championship

November 7, 2017 SmackDown Live, Manchester, England
AJ Styles defeated Jinder Mahal

WWE Intercontinental Championship

August 29, 1992 SummerSlam, London England
The British Bulldog defeated Bret "Hitman" Hart

November 13, 2006 Raw, Manchester, England
Jeff Hardy defeated Johnny Nitro

April 16, 2007 Raw, Milan, Italy
Santino Marella pinned Umaga

November 10, 2008 Raw, Manchester, England
William Regal defeated Santino Marella

NWA/WCW/WWE United States Championship

November 13, 1995 NJPW Tokyo, Japan
Kensuke Sasaki defeated Sting

November 13, 2000 Monday Nitro, London, England
Lance Storm defeated General Rection

WWE Raw Tag Team Championships

April 17, 2007 SmackDown, Milan, Italy
Deuce n' Domino defeated Paul London & Brian Kendrick

April 19, 2011 SmackDown, London, England
Big Show & Kane defeated The Corre: Heath Slater & Justin Gabriel

November 6, 2017 Raw, Manchester, England
Cesaro & Sheamus defeated Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins

WWE United Kingdom Championship

January 15, 2017 Blackpool, England
Tyler Bate pinned Pete Dunne in a tournament to become the inaugural champion

NXT Championship

July 4, 2015 The Beast in the East, Tokyo, Japan
Finn Balor defeated Kevin Owens

December 3, 2016 NXT Osaka, Japan
Shinsuke Nakamura pinned Samoa Joe

Inactive Championships

WWE World Championship September 2, 2002 - December 15, 2013

January 9, 2005 New Year's Revolution, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Triple H defeated Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, Batista, and Edge for the vacant championship in an Elimination Chamber match

WWE World Tag Team Championships June 3, 1971 - August 16, 2010

March 29, 1994 House Show, London, England
Men on a Mission: Mo & Mabel defeated The Quebecers: Jacques & Pierre

March 31, 1994 House Show, Sheffield, England
The Quebecers: Jacque & Pierre defeated Men on a Mission: Mo & Mabel

February 4, 2005 Raw, Saitama, Japan
William Regal & Tajiri defeated La Resistance: Robert Conway & Sylvain Grenier

November 13, 2006 Raw, Manchester, England
Rated RKO: Randy Orton & Edge defeated "Nature Boy" Ric Flair & "Rowdy" Roddy Piper

September 5, 2007 House Show, Cape Town, South Africa
Paul London & Brian Kendrick defeated Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch

September 8, 2007 House Show, Johannesburg, South Africa
Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch defeated Paul London & Brian Kendrick

WWE European Championship February 26, 1997 - July 22, 2002

February 26, 1997 Raw, Berlin, Germany
British Bulldog pinned Owen Hart in a tournament final to become the first ever champion

September 20, 1997 One Night Only, Brigmingham
Shawn Michaels defeated British Bulldog

December 2, 2000 Rebellion, Sheffield, England
Crash Holly defeated William Regal

WWE Women's Championship September 18, 1956 - September 19, 2010

July 3, 1986 House Show, Brisbane, Australia
Velvet McIntyre defeated The Fabulous Moolah

July 9, 1986 House Show, Sydney, Australia
The Fabulous Moolah defeated Velvet McIntyre

October 7, 1988 Prime Time Wrestling, Paris, France
Rockin' Robin defeated "Sensational" Sherri Martel

November 20, 1994 Big Egg Wrestling Universe, Tokyo, Japan
Bull Nakano defeated Alundra Blayze

January 9, 2005 New Year's Revolution, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Trish Stratus defeated Lita

April 24, 2007 House Show, Paris France
Mickie James defeated Champion: Melina and Victoria in a triple threat match pinning Victoria

Melina pinned Mickie James after being granted an immediate re-match

April 14, 2008 Raw, London, England
Mickie James defeated Beth Phoenix

WWE Diva's Championship July 20, 2008 - April 3, 2016

April 12, 2010 Raw, London, England
Eve Torres defeated Maryse

WWE Hardcore Championship November 2, 1998 - August 26, 2002

May 6, 2000 Insurrextion, London, England
The British Bulldog defeated Crash Holly

May 1, 2002 House Show, Cologne, Germany
Goldust defeated Tommy Dreamer
Steven Richards defeated Goldust

May 2, 2002 House Show, Glasgow, Scotland
Shawn Stasiak defeated Steven Richards
Justin Credible defeated Shawn Stasiak
Crash Holly defeated Justin Credible
Steven Richards defeated Crash Holly
Shawn Stasiak defeated Steven Richards
Steven Richards defeated Shawn Stasiak

May 3, 2002 House Show, Birmingham, England
Crash Holly defeated Steven Richards
Steven Richards defeated Crash Holly

May 4, 2002 Insurrextion, London, England
Booker T defeated Steven Richards
Crash Holly defeated Booker T
Booker T defeated Crash Holly
Steven Richards pinned Booker T

WCW / WWE Cruiserweight Championship March 20, 1996 - July 22, 2007

March 20, 1996 NJPW Hyper Battle 1996, Nagoya, Japan
Shinjiro Otani defeated Wild Pegasus (Chris Benoit) in a tournament final

Shinjiro Otani

November 15, 2005 House Show Rome, Italy
Nunzio defeated Juventud Guerrera

November 22, 2005 SmackDown Sheffield, England
Juventud Guerrera defeated Nunzio

WCW World Heavyweight Championship January 11, 1991 - December 9, 2001

March 11, 1993 House Show, London England
Sting defeated Big Van Vader

March 17, 1993 House Show, Dublin, Ireland
Big Van Vader pinned Sting

WCW World Tag Team Championship January 29, 1975 - November 18, 2001

February 12, 2000 House Show, Oberhausen, Germany
The Mamalukes: Johnny The Bull & Big Vito defeated The Harris Brothers: Ron & Don

February 13, 2000 House Show, Leipzig, Germany
The Harris Brothers: Ron & Don defeated The Mamalukes: Johnny The Bull & Big Vito

October 9, 2000 Thunder, Sydney, Australia
Misfits in Action: Lt. Loco & Corporal Cajun defeated Sean O'Haire & Mark Jindrak

Later in the show: Sean O'Haire & Mark Jindrak defeated Misfits in Action: Lt. Loco & Corporal Cajun

November 16, 2000 Millennium Final, Oberhausen, Germany
Alex Wright & General Rection defeated Sean O'Haire & Mark Jindrak

WCW Women's Championship December 29, 1996 - September 20, 1997

September 20, 1997 GAEA Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
Devil Masami defeated Zero in a tournament final for vacant championship

WCW Women's Crusierweight Championship April 7, 1997 - September 20, 1997

July 19, 1997 Yokohama, Japan
Yoshiko Tamura defeated Toshie Uematsu

September 20, 1997 GAEA Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
Sugar Sato defeated Toshiko Tamura

ECW World Tag Team Championships June 23, 1992 - April 11, 2001

December 13, 1998, ECW/FMW Supershow, Tokyo, Japan
Sabu & Rob Van Dam defeated The Dudley Boys: Bubba Ray & D-Von

Active/Inactive titles with no Title Changes Outside North America

WWE Universal Championship August 21, 2016 - present

WWE Raw Women's Champion April 3, 2016 - present

WWE Cruiserweight Champion September 14, 2016 - present

WWE SmackDown Women's Championship September 11, 2016 - present

WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship September 11, 2016 - present

NXT Tag Team Championships January 23, 2013 - present

NXT Women's Championship April 5, 2013 - present

WWE Light-Heavyweight Championship December 7, 1997 - November 30, 2001

WW-ECW Championship June 13, 2006 - February 16, 2010

WCW Light-Heavyweight Championship October 27, 1991 - September 2, 1992

WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship March 18, 2001 - March 26, 2001

WCW World Six-Man Tag Tea Championship February 17, 1991 - November 30, 1991

WCW Hardcore Championship November 21, 1999 - March 26, 2001

WCW United States Tag Team Championship September 28, 1986 - July 31, 1992

ECW World Heavyweight Championship April 25, 1992 - April 4, 2001

ECW World Television Championship August 12, 1992 - April 11, 2001

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment, read my other posts, and like my blogs Facebook page and while you're at it check out my weekly podcast Podcast of 1,000 Holds on the Nerdy Legion Podcast Network. 

Later Readers!