00:45Introducing his opponent from Gainesville, Georgia.
00:51He is the 2005 Mr. TNA.
00:56He is the phenomenal A.T. Styles!
01:05Yes, Mr. TNA 2005, as well as 2003 and 2004 by the way.
01:12But he doesn't have his award. He doesn't have his plaque because of Shannon Moore, the Prince of Punk.
01:19You saw that last night on Impact.
01:21Shannon Moore coming in and trying to steal the thunder from the phenomenal A.J. Styles.
01:27He was being a punk. I mean, punk's the key word right there.
01:30He don't come in and try to take away a moment from maybe the greatest wrestler that TNA has seen in its entirety.
01:37But let's talk about this matchup, Mike.
01:39Is Hiroshi Tanahashi coming here, not just coming here to be seen, but coming here to face the best that TNA has.
01:46I mean, you've got to argue that he is definitely one of the best and the phenomenal A.J. Styles.
01:51And I also like the fact that it is A.J. Styles because of his competitive spirit.
01:55This is gonna be something to watch.
01:57Look at the charisma of Hiroshi Tanahashi, enjoying the fact that the fans here in the Impact Zone certainly relating to him.
02:05You hear the chants for both of these individuals.
02:08You saw the championship belt, the U-30, the under 30 years of age.
02:12That's respect on the face of A.J. Styles towards his opponent.
02:15He's held that belt for seven months.
02:18For nearly a year, he was one half of the IWGP, which is the equivalent to our World Tag Team Championship belts.
02:26IWGP Tag Team Champion.
02:28And, Don, he has accomplished so much in his six-year career in the Orient.
02:34Many of you wrestling fans who remember back to the late 1980s.
02:38Oh!
02:39From behind, he just surprised A.J. with the dropkick and then the deep arm drag.
02:43In the late 1980s, there was a wrestler named The Great Muda, New Japan Pro Wrestling.
02:49Sent him to the United States, and he broke out.
02:52He emerged as a star with World Championship Wrestling.
02:55Let's take another look at this corner dropkick, and that surprised A.J.
02:59And then look at that arm drag right there.
03:00He just connected it right in and sent it with force.
03:03New Japan Pro Wrestling sees something in Tanahashi, much like they saw in The Great Muda.
03:09He spent well over a month wrestling in Mexico, and when the opportunity presented itself to bring one of the stars of New Japan Pro Wrestling to the U.S.,
03:18Hiroshi Tanahashi was the man that knew Japan handpicked.
03:24Well, when you look at his style already, you can see a familiarity of the X Division.
03:30And you look at the build.
03:31You look at the speed that he has.
03:32I mean, you can see he fits right in.
03:34Oh!
03:35Nice dropkick by A.J. to let him know that, hey, this is my house.
03:40You better be careful when you come in here as he nails him with that.
03:44And A.J., is he gonna fly?
03:46Oh, he stops as Tanahashi got out of the way, but that's the reflexes that A.J. has.
03:52Obviously, Tanahashi not worn down enough here in the early going as A.J. was gonna go high risk.
03:58Some kind of a flying move possibly through the rope.
04:01But Tanahashi wisely able to move out of the way, and there you see the replay.
04:05Wow!
04:06What impact behind the dropkick.
04:08What leg strength for the phenomenal A.J. Styles' Mr. TNA.
04:11You know what I thought was smart, though, that Hiroshi did right there was after the dropkick, he rolled himself right out of the ring.
04:17He didn't stay there to let A.J. get him because he knew he was a little groggy.
04:21I mean, that rang his bell.
04:22He got out of there, cleared the cobwebs.
04:24Now he's back in.
04:25That's experience.
04:28Late in the 1990s, Hiroshi Tanahashi was recognized as the best professional-style wrestler in college.
04:37You see, the college wrestling over in Japan, in many instances, is not like it is.
04:42Different standards than in the United States.
04:44Certainly, they have university amateur wrestling.
04:46But they also have clubs at the different colleges in Japan.
04:50And he was recognized as the best pro-style wrestler.
04:53And A.J. goes airborne, drops the knee right across the head of Tanahashi.
04:58Followed cover, had the leg hooked.
05:00No, just a two count.
05:01Nice scoop and a slam there by A.J. to set up that knee drop.
05:04And A.J.'s one of those that one thing he will not let Tanahashi do is get momentum.
05:09He knows how to stop that even though these guys are not familiar with each other at all.
05:14But Tanahashi, look at that.
05:15Look at the strength right there of Tanahashi.
05:17The release suplex.
05:18And you're right, they're not familiar with each other.
05:20First ever meeting between these two wrestlers, Tanahashi and A.J. Styles.
05:25And A.J. set for the ride.
05:27Flying, forearm shot by Tanahashi, takes him down.
05:30And then he goes airborne and drops the elbow.
05:33Wow, one right after the other.
05:35He's going to the pin.
05:36A.J. right now, I think, is shaking up right there.
05:39I mean, look at how he does this.
05:41There you see him just use his streak as he throws it back right there.
05:44And then when he came back and he just hit him with one shot after the other,
05:48A.J. right now is reeling a little bit.
05:50He's going to have to somehow get his composure.
05:52Tanahashi six years in the business.
05:54As a rookie in his first year, he defeated Hall of Famer Negro Casas, the Lucha Libre star.
06:01In the year 2001, how about this?
06:04In the G1 Climax Tournament, which is a huge annual event over in the Orient,
06:09Tanahashi defeated Scott Hall.
06:13He has an incredible resume, and that's one of the reasons that New Japan Pro Wrestling knows
06:19that they have this emerging star aging to try and fight out on the abdominal stretch.
06:24And luckily for Styles, he makes it to the ropes to get the break.
06:28I'll tell you what, Tanahashi is relentless, Mike.
06:30I mean, he's one of those that, he doesn't stop.
06:33I mean, when he finds his room, he goes right after you, doesn't let up for a minute.
06:38I mean, he just, he doesn't allow his opponent, in this case, AJ Styles, to catch his breath.
06:44And of course, Tanahashi realizes that, yes, he is on the international stage.
06:49You look around ringside, Don, and you see cameramen, reporters, representing all the magazines in Japan.
06:56They are here to document Hiroshi Tanahashi, who now has the sleeper applied to AJ Styles.
07:02And you know that Tanahashi realizes with all the journalists here from Japan,
07:07that the results of this match, they're gonna be all over the newspapers and magazines in the RN.
07:13Dragon applied! He's got it on him now!
07:16He went from the standard sleeper to out of the dragon.
07:19AJ Styles right now fighting for his breath, fighting to get some air.
07:23He's got to get to his feet.
07:25Tanahashi, as you can see, in total control of this match.
07:28Oh, my God!
07:29Spinning him around, and he takes him now with the elbow to the gun.
07:32Giant swing, that out of the dragon sleeper, goes for the pin,
07:35has the legs hooked, but no!
07:37Oh, he had the knee right there across the neck of AJ.
07:41Referee Andrew Thomas pulling it away right there.
07:43That was cutting off the windpipe, not allowing him to get any air whatsoever.
07:47But AJ, you can see, is needing some oxygen bad.
07:51I think AJ may be as surprised as many of the people here in the impact zone,
07:57by the offensive attack of Tanahashi.
07:59The scoop and a slam, now from the middle.
08:01Oh, went for that elbow drop.
08:03Styles rolls out of the way to avoid the contact.
08:06Oh, he had to right there.
08:07I mean, that would have been one of those finishing shots right there,
08:09that AJ would not have been able to recover from.
08:11He used whatever he had left to roll out of the way.
08:14Now he's got to figure out some way to get the momentum back on his side.
08:18Maybe that'll do it.
08:19Nice shot to the back of the head.
08:21Of the foot right there of AJ Styles.
08:23Styles caught him with the kick.
08:25You're right, Don.
08:26Drilled him in the back of the head.
08:27Tanahashi, slow to recover.
08:29Trying to clear the cobwebs.
08:31AJ, he's been beaten on for the last several minutes by Tanahashi,
08:34and now both men back up to their feet.
08:36AJ charges across.
08:38Connects with a pair of clotheslines.
08:40Picks up Tanahashi at the head.
08:42Gonna try and take him up into the air.
08:44Tanahashi fights off the suplex attempt.
08:47AJ off the ropes.
08:48Tanahashi, instead, takes Styles up.
08:50Positions him on the apron.
08:52AJ fights back.
08:53Look out for the springboard.
08:54Here he goes.
08:55Oh, he catches him with that flying forearm right there.
08:57Right into the head of Tanahashi.
08:59As you can see, he hit the back of his head at the mat,
09:02and he's trying to get a grip on where he is.
09:04This could be what AJ needs.
09:07Oh.
09:09AJ drops Tanahashi.
09:11Pin, far leg, hook.
09:12Gets two.
09:13No.
09:14Shoulder up at two.
09:18So close right there, but AJ Styles,
09:20for the first time in a few minutes,
09:22finally saw some daylight.
09:24Finally able to get things going back his direction.
09:27Now what can he do?
09:28Because obviously you can see Tanahashi's
09:30in incredible physical condition.
09:32It's not going to be a thing of outlasting him.
09:34You've just got to catch him at the right moment
09:36to get the pin.
09:37AJ charges in, but Tanahashi's prepared.
09:39He's ready.
09:40Caught him with a pair of boots right into the chassis.
09:42Now AJ catches him with the elbow from the middle rope.
09:46He turned his back on Tanahashi,
09:48and he's going to pay out of the full Nelson.
09:50He might try and suplex him over.
09:52And there he goes.
09:53No.
09:54Instead, he just bombs him down.
09:55Power bombs it right there.
09:56Oh, man.
09:57So close.
10:00AJ right now knows that he's in trouble.
10:04Tanahashi knows how close he was to getting that pin.
10:07You can see the anguish on his face.
10:09And you can see the frustration on the face of Tanahashi,
10:12as Don mentioned.
10:13I think AJ's surprised.
10:15Tanahashi may be a little disappointed
10:17that he didn't get the three count.
10:19A series of shots in mid-break.
10:22Tanahashi with the forearms.
10:24AJ went for the wild kick.
10:25Tanahashi avoided it and drops it.
10:28With that double sledge, AJ quickly back up to his feet.
10:31Again, trying to get him right there in the sleeper.
10:34You can see him going around.
10:36Oh, another kick to the back of the hand.
10:38AJ just cannot seem to get any rhythm at all.
10:41Oh, man.
10:42Just powered Styles right down to the canvas.
10:46Tanahashi, cover.
10:47One, two, oh, just in time and again.
10:51Tanahashi can't believe it.
10:53He's thinking, what has he got to do?
10:55I mean, I guarantee you, he's thinking,
10:57what do I have to do to AJ Styles to pin him?
11:00For those of you who had not heard of Hiroshi Tanahashi
11:03before this Final Resolution matchup,
11:05yeah, you're getting an education.
11:07As you see, one of the great stars of New Japan Pro Wrestling
11:11bring his game to the US.
11:13Face first goes Styles into the corner turnbuckle.
11:15Now, position up on that top rope.
11:18Look out.
11:19Tanahashi follows up.
11:20AJ fights off.
11:22Series of right hands to the top of the head.
11:24Tanahashi with headbutts.
11:25AJ knows he's vulnerable right there.
11:27Tanahashi has a counter for everything that AJ does.
11:30Every reaction that AJ's giving him, Tanahashi has a counter.
11:35It might be a simple headbutt.
11:37Oh, AJ, though, always able to think above and beyond
11:41what one woman can do.
11:42He got the momentum.
11:44He can feel Tanahashi falling back.
11:46He used that to his advantage.
11:48Did you notice, Don,
11:49how he was able to turn and twist in mid-move,
11:51and there you see it.
11:52Great replay look at what we just witnessed,
11:55able to move and shift that body weight
11:57and power Tanahashi down.
12:00Kick to the back of the head.
12:01It was just a grazing kick.
12:02Tanahashi, yeah, caught him,
12:03but he was able to avoid most of the contact.
12:05You see the mid-ring standing switch
12:07and another standing switch.
12:08Out of the full Nelson.
12:09AJ, wait a minute.
12:10Shannon Moore just ran right by us.
12:12The Prince of Pump.
12:13Get this guy out of here.
12:14Oh, no.
12:15Oh, wait a minute.
12:16He just caught Tanahashi.
12:19AJ then went for the melee.
12:21There's the black A.
12:22Hit him with the black,
12:23and then it looked like AJ caught the Prince of Pump.
12:27Out of nowhere.
12:28You're right.
12:29Styles caught him with the kick.
12:30Swing and a miss by Tanahashi.
12:31And AJ gonna go for the clash.
12:34Here he goes.
12:35He's steady.
12:36Oh, he hits it.
12:37Styles clash.
12:38AJ's got him.
12:40Pin.
12:41One, two, got him.
12:43The winner of the match, the phenomenal, AJ Styles.
12:52The Prince of Pump tried to influence the outcome of this matchup.
12:57He ran in with the Mr. TNA award that he stole last night on Impact.
13:03But that interference on the part of Shannon Moore didn't pay off.
13:07AJ hits the Styles clash and gets the win.
13:10Great respect on between these two warriors.
13:13Well, AJ doesn't want to win this way,
13:15and that's what he's telling him.
13:17He doesn't want to win this way.
13:18He's sorry.
13:19He's apologizing right now.
13:21That's the clasp that he has.
13:23You can see that plaque right there.
13:25Shannon Moore, that was just disgusting.
13:27Someone's got to get a rain on him.
13:29As you see Tanahashi handing it back to AJ
13:32and is still respecting him out.
13:34Class.
13:36Class.
13:38No, no, no.
13:39Oh, come on.
13:40Again, Shannon Moore, the Prince of Pump,
13:42just stole that plaque again.
13:44He stole the Mr. TNA award again from AJ.
13:47This is just getting out of hand.
13:49Before we hear from Raven, let's take a look at his history
13:54with Larry Zbizko of the Championship Committee.
13:57It's a great pass.
13:58Time to get the title of the Championship Committee.
13:59I'm here to go!
14:00If you missed the title of the Championship Committee
14:01even then he's waiting for John to score some of his possessions.
14:03That's the one that you won't be able to do.
14:04That's the one that we have to do tonight.
14:05We're going to lead it Sunday.
14:06You can see a couple of teams in the next week.
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