The Wrestling Collector Store

Saturday September 26th I was in Parsippany, New Jersey for the 2026 Atlantic APCO Conference, which runs from the 27th to 30th, however my team and I drove won to the conference from Maine, and with the approaching Nor'easter we headed down on Friday to avoid the storm.

That left me with all day Saturday to do some exploring, and that I did.  My team member Jessica and I first went to New Jersey Horror Con because Betsy Baker and Theresa Tilly, two of the 3 ladies of the Evil Dead movie were supposed to be there, however after paying admission, found out one was sick so they both cancelled.  As we already paid we spent some time taking in the vendors and I picked up a couple small things.  There were a lot of celebrities there, but no one I wanted the meet that I hadn't met before.

We then headed north to Stockholm, New Jersey and The Wrestling Collector!  I had first learned about it on Facebook, and a couple months back Matt Cardona and Brian Meyers of the Major Figures Podcast filmed a vlog at the store for their YouTube page.

It's not a huge store but it is jammed with wrestling collectibles and memorabilia.  The owner of the store, Tommy Ferrero, is also the promoter for the ISPW: Independent Superstars of Pro Wrestling promotion, which has been running shows in 1998.  He was not there as his mother was running the shop.

There is stuff stacked all over the place, when you walk in on the right side he has a small museum display of ring worm memorabilia.  This is also where everything that is signed if located.  Figures, posters, 8 x 10's and anything else with a signature.

To the left of the entrance is a side room with magazine, programs, VHS, DVD's, wrestling figures, books and more.  I would say 75% of what was in the shop was WWF / WWE, which makes sense as we are right in the heart of the WWF's territory. 

I was in there for almost an hour and a half looking through everything.  I did picked out a few things that I bought, I tried to be reasonable because there was so much stuff I would have liked to pick up, but it would be just buying stuff to buy stuff.  

I felt some of the prices were reasonable and others not so much, but that's just my opinion.  All VHS were $15, all DVD's were $10, Magazines and Programs were $10 or as marked, all books were $20, and loose figures were anything from $5 to $20 depending on the figure.  In package were as marked, and then there was a bunch of stuff not marked and she had to call him to ask what he wanted.

This right here I was extremely tempted to buy, it was The Wrestling Album, and when I was 6 years old my Dad got me this exact thing for Christmas.  It was unique because the packaging was record album size but for a cassette tape.  They were asking $60, and I almost pulled the trigger on it.

What I think is unique about the program was the paper insert inside.  WWF used to print a generic program to use at multiple venues and shows, and they would include a paper insert with the date, location, and card for the night.  This particular insert was for Madison Square Garden the night Bob Backlund lost the WWF Championship to Diesel.

I had this video game for the original Nintendo, this copy was original sealed.  I have no idea what they were asking for it.

There was so many programs and posters for Madison Square Garden and the New York and New Jersey area.  I looked as all the MSG programs and I decided if they had one with someone on the cover that I could get signed I would pick it up, sadly everyone featured had passed away.

After much deliberation this is what I decided to pick up:

My favorite wrestling to go back and watch is Jim Crockett Promotions 1983 - 1988, to me it's just the best!  This VHS is the 1988 Great American Bash PPV from July 10, 1988 in Baltimore.  This would be the last PPV under the Jim Crockett Promotions banner and the next PPV Starrcade was after the sale to Ted Turner.  I also have the program to this event signed by Ric Flair and Lex Luger.

First is a WWF program from featuring Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda that I feel confident that I can get signed.  The second is a special look at "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas, as he lives in Maine and I see him several times a year I know I will get this signed.  The Tony Atlas program had the paper insert for September 21, 1981 at Madison Square Garden.

Along with the Tony Atlas program was this Poster, which is in rough shape, but is pretty cool.  I'll get Tony to sign this as well.  The last photo is for size reference on the poster.

I had a pretty awesome time at The Wrestling Collector store.  I coupe things I do which I had picked up, and I just might have time to scoot back up before I head home on Wednesday.

You can read all about my trip to New Jersey for the 2026 Atlantic APCO Conference here.

Here is the video from Major Figures Podcast of their tour of the shop.

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.

Until next time! 

They Wrestled at MSG, Wembley, Tokyo Dome, & Arena Mexico 2026 Update

I was recently asked to update my post about wrestlers that have wrestled at Madison Square Garden, Wembley Arena, the Tokyo Dome, and Arena Mexico.  I intended to post this after the most recent AEW & CMLL Grand Slam event at Mexico City, and prior to All In but life got in the way of doing so.

 

I've been asked why these 4 venues are "so important".  For me it's because Wembley Stadium has only held 3 wrestling events with the 4th later this month, while what makes the other 3 unique is the monopoly promotions have on the other venues.  Except for 1 show in 2019 with NJPW & ROH, only WWE has held shows at Madison Square Garden, CMLL owns Arena Mexico, and NJPW is really the only company that has run at the Tokyo Dome outside of a couple shows by NOAH in the last 20 years.  So if you haven't worked for these companies then you haven't wrestling in those venues.

Back in 2023 after the first AEW All In at Wembley it was a very short list, on 3 wrestlers.  I blogged about it here: The Only 3 Wrestlers....

In 2024 after AEW All In at Wembley that list grew to 10 wrestlers!  You can read that blog here: There are now Many Wrestlers....

This year I decided to make a spreadsheet to help keep track going forward.  The easiest way to do this was to start with Wembley Arena, as there have only been 4 events to date at the stadium.  I noticed that the 3 previous events and the All In 2026 all take place in a 6 day stretch of August.

Summer Slam 1992 August 29th

All In 2023 August 27th

All In 2024 August 25th

All In 2026 August 30th

After completing the spreadsheet there are 120 different wrestlers that have wrestled in Wembley Arena and another 20 that appeared in a manager or valet role.  I would like to note that I use Cagematch for this research and while I know it is not 100% accurate, it's an excellent resource.  During this research I discovered a new way to search their records making this research easier, and I discovered a couple omissions in previous posts. 

My previous posts list 10 names, we are adding two names that I previously overlooked, and 

Let's get to it!

I made a mistake in my original 2023 post as I excluded Road Warrior Animal who had accomplished this feet in 2008.  What's rather embarrassing about this he only wrestled two more matches in his career after this match in Arena Mexico.  In my 2024 update I omitted Mark Briscoe who completed the superfecta with his match at All In 2024.

You can go back to my 2023 post to read about the matches of: Chris Jericho, Juice Robinson, and John Tenta.

You can go back to my 2024 post to read about the matches of  Bryan Danielson, Zack Sabre Jr., Jon Moxley, Jay Lethal, Rocky Romero, Tomohiro Ishii, and Kazuchika Okada.

Road Warrior Animal

One Half of one of the greatest tag teams of all time, Road Warrior Animal was the second person to wrestle at all of these venues after John Tenta, completing the superfecta in 2008.

Wembley Arena

August 29, 1992 WWF SummerSlam

The Legion of Doom: Hawk & Animal with Paul Ellering defeated Money Inc: Ted DiBiase & Irwin R. Schyster

Madison Square Garden

March 21, 1990 WWF House Show

The Legion of Doom: Hawk & Animal with Paul Ellering and The Ultimate Warrior defeated Demolition: Ax, Smash, & Crush

Tokyo Dome

March 30, 1991 WWF & SWS Wrestlefest

Road Warriors: Hawk & Animal defeated Genichiro Tenryu & Hulk Hogan by count-out

Arena Mexico

May 11, 2008 Toryumon Mexico DragonMania III

Hell Warriors: Animal Warrior & Power Warrior defeated Los Perros del Mal: Damian 666 & Damian El Terrible to win the vacant UWA World Tag Team Championships.  Power Warrior is Kensuke Sasaki

Dax Harwood

FTR should be the first tag team to compete at all venues, however, Cash was not able to appear at the Arena Mexico event in June 2025.  He was held up due to travel documentation and Volador Jr. replaced him in the tag team match.

Wembley Stadium

August 27, 2023 AEW All In London 2023

AEW World Tag Team Champions: FTR: Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler defeated The Young Bucks: Nick & Matt Jackson 

Madison Square Garden

December 26, 2017 WWE Live Holiday Tour

10 Man Tag: Goldust, Heath Slater, Rhyno & Titus Worldwide: Apollo Crews & Titus O'Neil defeat Curt Hawkins, The Miztourage: Bo Dallas & Curtis Axel & The Revival: Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson

Tokyo Dome

January 4, 2023 NJPW WrestleKingdom 17

Bishamon: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defeated IWGP World Heavyweight Tag Team Champions: FTR: Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood to win the titles  

Arena Mexico

June 18, 2025 AEW Grand Slam Mexico

14 Man Tag Team Match: Adam Cole, Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., Bandido, Brody King, Daniel Garcia and Templario defeated Dax Harwood, Don Callis Family: Hechicero, Josh Alexander, Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher & Lance Archer and Volador Jr.

Adam Cole

Cole only competed at each venue on one show, two matches at Wembley teaming with and wrestling against MJF.  Kyle O'Reilly was also involved in his matches at MSG & the Tokyo Dome

Wembley Stadium

August 27, 2023 AEW All In London 2023

Better Than You Bay Bay: AEW World Heavyweight Champion: MJF & Adam Cole defeated ROH World Tag Team Champions: Aussie Open: Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis to win the titles

AEW World Heavyweight Champion: MJF defeated Adam Cole

Madison Square Garden

December 26, 2018 WWE House Show

Aleister Black, Matt Riddle, Pete Dunne, Ricochet & Velveteen Dream defeated Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, and The Undisputed Era: Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly, & Roderick Strong

Tokyo Dome

January 4, 2017 NJPW WrestleKingdom 11

Adam Cole pinned Ring of Honor World Champion: Kyle O'Reilly to win the title

Arena Mexico

June 18, 2025 AEW Grand Slam Mexico

14 Man Tag Team Match: Adam Cole, Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., Bandido, Brody King, Daniel Garcia and Templario defeated Dax Harwood, Don Callis Family: Hechicero, Josh Alexander, Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher & Lance Archer and Volador Jr.

Brody King

Facts about King's appearances, he lost 3 of the 4 matches, only 1 was a singles match the rest multi-man matches, and he competed in 2 of the 4 matches in 2025.

Wembley Stadium

August 27, 2023 AEW All In London 2023

The Acclaimed: Max Caster & Anthony Bowens and Billy Gunn defeated AEW World Trios Champions: House of Black: Malakai Black, Buddy Matthews, & Brody King to win the titles

Madison Square Garden

April 6, 2019 NJPW/ROH G1 Supercard

IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions: Guerillas of Destiny: Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defeated Ring of Honor World Tag Team Champions: PCO & Brody King and Los Ingobernables de Japon: Evil & SANADA and The Briscoe Brothers: Mark & Jay Briscoe to win the ROH World Tag Team Championships

Tokyo Dome

January 5, 2025 Wrestle Dynasty - NJPW, CMLL,AEW

David Finlay pinned Brody King

Arena Mexico

June 18, 2025 AEW Grand Slam Mexico

14 Man Tag Team Match: Adam Cole, Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., Bandido, Brody King, Daniel Garcia and Templario defeated Dax Harwood, Don Callis Family: Hechicero, Josh Alexander, Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher & Lance Archer and Volador Jr.

Will Ospreay

What's interesting to me is that when Ospreay first competed at Wembley for AEW he was not signed to the company and had only had 8 matches in the promotion previously.   It was pretty nice of AEW to give him that coveted spot on the card.  

Wembley Stadium

August 27, 2023 AEW All In London 2023

Will Ospreay pinned Chris Jericho 

Madison Square Garden

April 6, 2019 NJPW/ROH G1 Supercard

Ring of Honor World Television Champion: Jeff Cobb pinned NEVER Openweight Champion: Will Ospreay to win the championship

Tokyo Dome

January 4, 2017 NJPW WrestleKingdom 11

Gauntlet Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon: Bushi, Evil, & SANADA defeated NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions: David Finlay, Ricochet, & Satoshi Kojima, and CHAOS: Jado, YOSHI-HASHI, & Will Ospreay and Bullet Club: Bad Luck Fale, Adam Page, and Yujiro Takahashi to win the championships

Bullet Club defeated CHOAS

LIJ defeated Bullet Club

LIJ defeated Finlay, Kojima, & Ricochet

Arena Mexico

June 18, 2025 AEW Grand Slam Mexico

10 Man Tag: Death Riders: Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta, The Beast Mortos and The Young Bucks: Nick & Matt Jackson defeated The Opps: Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, & Katsuyori Shibata, Swerve Strickland, and Will Ospreay

Mark Briscoe

Briscoe competed in all multi-man matches at each show, which is no surprise considering he's known for his tag team wrestling.  Brother Jay was in all but the Wembley Stadium match. 

Wembley Stadium

August 25, 2024 AEW All In London

Casino Gauntlet Match: Christian Cage defeated Adam Page, Jeff Jarrett, Kazuchika Okada, Kyle O'Reilly, Luchasaurus, Mark Briscoe, Nigel McGuinness, Orange Cassidy, Ricochet, Roderick Strong, and Zack Sabre Jr to become the #1 Contender to the AEW World Championship

Madison Square Garden

April 6, 2019 NJPW/ROH G1 Supercard

IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions: Guerillas of Destiny: Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defeated Ring of Honor World Tag Team Champions: PCO & Brody King and Los Ingobernables de Japon: Evil & SANADA and The Briscoe Brothers: Mark & Jay Briscoe to win the ROH World Tag Team Championships

Tokyo Dome

January 4, 2016 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 10

The Briscoe Brothers: Mark & Jay Briscoe and Toru Yano defeated Bullet Club: Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga, & Yujiro Takahashi to win the vacant NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships

Arena Mexico

August 3, 2018 CMLL Nego Casas 40th Aniversario

Best 2 out of 3 Falls: Lucha Brothers: Rey Fenix & Penta defeated The Briscoe Brothers: Mark & Jay Briscoe 2 falls to 1

Ricochet

Completed the 4 stadiums in a nine year span, competed in all multi-man matches and lost each one. 

Wembley Stadium

August 25, 2024 AEW All In London

Casino Gauntlet Match: Christian Cage defeated Adam Page, Jeff Jarrett, Kazuchika Okada, Kyle O'Reilly, Luchasaurus, Mark Briscoe, Nigel McGuinness, Orange Cassidy, Ricochet, Roderick Strong, and Zack Sabre Jr to become the #1 Contender to the AEW World Championship

Madison Square Garden

December 26, 2018 WWE House Show

Aleister Black, Matt Riddle, Pete Dunne, Ricochet & Velveteen Dream defeated Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, and The Undisputed Era: Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly, & Roderick Strong

Tokyo Dome

January 4, 2016 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 10

Fatal Four Way: The Young Bucks: Nick & Matt Jackson defeated IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions: Redragon: Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly and Roppongi Vice: Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta and Matt Sydal & Richochet to win the titles

Arena Mexico

June 18, 2025 AEW Grand Slam

Four Million Pesos Fatal Four Way: Hologram defeated Lio Rush, Mascara Dorada, and Ricochet

Mercedes Mone

The first woman wrestler to compete at all 4 venues, the first in 202=14 and the final three in a 10 month period from August 2024 to June 2025.  She defended or won championships in three of the matches.

Wembley Stadium

August 25, 2024 AEW All In London 2024

AEW TBS Champion: Mercedes Mone defeated Dr. Britt Baker DMD

Madison Square Garden

July 12, 2014 WWE House Show

Natalya & Brie Bella defeated Charlotte Flair & Sasha Banks

Tokyo Dome

January 5, 2025 Wrestle Dynasty - NJPW, CMLL, & AEW

New Japan Strong Women's Champion: Mercedes Mone defeated RevPro Undisputed British Women's Champion: Mina Shirakawa to win the RevPro Championship

Arena Mexico

June 18, 2025 AEW Grand Slam 2025

Mercedes Mone defeated CMLL World Women's Champion: Zeuxis to win the championship

Claudio Castagnoli

Wrestled at MSG in 2012 and then the other three venues in the last 3 years.  Came out on the losing end at all but MSG.  

Wembley Stadium

August 27, 2023 AEW All In London 2023

Stadium Stampede: Best Friends: Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta, Eddie Kingston, Orange Cassidy, and Penta defeated Blackpool Combat Club: Claudio Castagnoli, Jon Moxley, & Wheeler Yuta and Mike Santana & Ortiz

Madison Square Garden

December 27, 2012 WWE Raw House Show

WWE United States Champion: Antonio Cesaro defeated Zack Ryder

Tokyo Dome

January 5, 2025 Wrestle Dynasty - NJPW, CMLL, & AEW

Shota Umino pinned Claudio Castagnoli

Arena Mexico

March 29, 2024 CMLL Homenaje A Dos Leyendas 2024

Blue Panther, Mistico, Ultimo Guerrero & Volador Jr. defeated Blackpool Combat Club: Claudio Castagnoli, Jon Moxley, & Bryan Danielson and Matt Sydal

Christian Cage

It took Christian over 27 years from February 1999 to July 2026  to finish off the superfecta.  He competed in all tag team matches, two of them with Adam Copeland which was the 1st and last venue on the list.  

Wembley Stadium

August 27, 2023 AEW All In London 2023

Coffin Match: Darby Allin & Sting defeated Christian Cage & Sweve Strickland

Madison Square Garden

February 7, 1999 WWF House Show

The Brood: Edge & Christian defeated The JOB Squad: Bob Holly & The Blue Meanie

Tokyo Dome

January 4, 2008 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom II

Christian Cage, AJ Styles, & Petey Williams defeated RISE: Milano Collection AT, Minoru Tanaka, & Prince Devitt

Arena Mexico

August 8, 2026 AEW Grand Slam Mexico 2026

Death Riders: Daniel Garcia, Jon Moxley, PAC, & Wheeler Yuta defeated AEW World Tag Team Champions: Cope & Cage: Adam Copeland & Christian Cage and The Young Bucks: Nick & Matt Jackson

Jeff Jarrett

Double J complete the superfecta in 32 years between 1994 & 2026.  Jarrett had competed in Mexico for over 20 years, however it was always with Lucha Libre AAA so he never wrestled at Arena Mexico until 2026.  

Wembley Stadium

August 25, 2024 AEW All In London

Casino Gauntlet Match: Christian Cage defeated Adam Page, Jeff Jarrett, Kazuchika Okada, Kyle O'Reilly, Luchasaurus, Mark Briscoe, Nigel McGuinness, Orange Cassidy, Ricochet, Roderick Strong, and Zack Sabre Jr to become the #1 Contender to the AEW World Championship

Madison Square Garden

January 17, 1994 WWF House Show

WWF Intercontinental Champion: Razor Ramon defeated Jeff Jarrett

Royal Rumble Match: Owen Hart defeated Adam Bomb, Bam Bam Bigelow, Bart Gunn, Bastion Booger, Bob Backlund, Bret Hart, Bushwacker Butch, Crush, Diesel, Doink the Clown, Headshrinker Fatu, Iron Mike Sharpe, Irwin R. Schyster, Jeff Jarrett, Jim Powers, Johnny Polo, Bushwacker Luke, Mabel, Marty Jannetty, Mo, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Rick Martel, Headshrinker Samu, Scott Putski, Scott Steiner, Sgt. Slaughter, Shawn Michaels, The 1-2-3 Kid, and Virgil in 70:06

Tokyo Dome

January 4, 2015 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9

TenKoji: Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima and Tomoaki Honma defeated Bullet Club: Bad Luck Fale & Yujiro Takahashi and Jeff Jarrett 

Arena Mexico

August 5, 2026 AEW Grand Slam Mexico 2026

Dark Match: Jeff Jarrett, Brillante Jr., Mascara Dorada, Orange Cassidy and Roderick Strong defeated Nick Wayne, The Dogs: Clark Connors & David Finlay and The Swirl: Blake Christian & Lee Johnson

Andrade El Idolo

Andrade has competed in over 500 matches at Arena Mexico. His debut at Arena Mexico he wrestled under the name Brillante and at the Tokyo Dome under the name La Sombra. 

Wembley Stadium

August 30, 2026 AEW ALL In London 2026

AEW World Championship #1 Contender Casino Gauntlet: Andrade El Idolo defeated Daniel Garcia, Jack Perry, Jericho, Komander, Mark Davis, Mike Bailey, Mistico, MJF, Nick Wayne, & Tommaso Ciampa pinning Nick Wayne

Madison Square Garden

September 10, 2019 WWE Smackdown TV

The Miz pinned Andrade

Tokyo Dome

January 4, 2011 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom VI

La Sombra & Mascara Dorada defeated Hector Garza & Jushin Thunder Liger

Arena Mexico

April 27, 2007 CMLL Super Viernes

Best 2 out of 3 Falls: Brillante (Andrade), Stuka Jr., & Valiente defeated Los Hombres del Camoflaje: Artillero & Super Comando and Polvora

Shelton Benjamin

It took 24 years for Benjamin to complete the superfecta, MSG was a singles match and all others were multi-person matches.  

Wembley Stadium

August 30, 2026 AEW ALL In London 2026

The Hurt Syndicate: Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin and Boom & Doom: QT Marshall & Big Boom AJ with Big Justice defeated Shane Taylor Promotions: Shane Taylor, Carlie Bravo, Shawn Dean, & Ring of Honor Pure Champion: Lee Moriarty with Trish Adora & Christyan XO 

Madison Square Garden

August 26, 2002 WWE Sunday Night Heat

Dark Match: Shelton Benjamin pinned Shawn Stasiak

Tokyo Dome

January 4, 2012 Wrestle Kingdom VI NJPW 40th Anniversary Show

MVP & Shelton Benjamin defeated Masato Tanaka & Yujiro Takahashi

Arena Mexico

June 28, 2015 LLE All Elite

Best 2 out of 3 Falls: Big Ryck & Volador Jr. defeated RUSH & Shelton Benjamin by DQ

Mistico

Competed as Astro Boy at Arena Mexico and Sin Cara at Madison Square Garden, took 23 years to complete the superfecta all matches were multi-person matches. 

Wembley Stadium

August 30, 2026 AEW ALL In London 2026

AEW World Championship #1 Contender Casino Gauntlet: Andrade El Idolo defeated Daniel Garcia, Jack Perry, Jericho, Komander, Mark Davis, Mike Bailey, Mistico, MJF, Nick Wayne, & Tommaso Ciampa pinning Nick Wayne

Madison Square Garden

November 20, 2011 WWE Survivor Series

Team Barrett: Cody Rhodes, Dolph Ziggler, Hunico, Jack Swagger & Wade Barrett defeated Team Orton: Kofi Kingston, Mason Ryan, Randy Orton, Sheamus, & Sin Cara in a traditional Survivor Series.

Tokyo Dome

January 4, 2009 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom III

Mistico, Prince Devitt, & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Averno and Great Bash Heel: Gedo & Jado

Arena Mexico

November 21, 2003 CMLL Super Viernes

Best 2 out of 3 Falls: Astro Boy & Sombra de Plata defeated El Koreano & Super Comando

What's fun for me is many of these wrestler's debuts at Madison Square Garden was the the NJPW & ROH G1 Supercard, and I was in attendance for that show!

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.

Until next time! 

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.