00:00The following contest is scheduled for
00:23The first time that AJ Styles ever wore a mask to the ring was a decade ago, January of 2016, his last appearance in New Japan in a matchup against Shinsuke Nakamura for the IWD.
00:53The G.P. Intercontinental Championship. AJ Styles going old school tonight.
01:05Standing switch by Styles. Nakamura will pry the hands open. And Shinsuke, one of the best pure strikers on the planet today, hopes to neutralize Styles.
01:17AJ. Oh! And AJ went for the leapfrog. He got caught by the dropkick.
01:28And here we go, Cole.
01:30And Shinsuke Nakamura positioning himself. Looked like he may be looking for a Kintasa there, but AJ caught him out of the knee.
01:37Once again, just a game. A dragon screw.
01:39A beat too long. And you give AJ that amount of time, he's going to conjure something up in his mind.
01:45He's going to figure something out. Some form of reversal. And 25 years competing at the top gives you that mental ability.
01:52And AJ going to roll through looking for the cap crusher here. This is what got Gunther to tap out a couple of weeks back.
01:57The cap crusher locked in to Shinsuke Nakamura.
02:01And I promise you the mistake that AJ made him release in that hole before the referee gave the call against Gunther will never be made again.
02:10It's mind over matter at this point for Shinsuke Nakamura, who simply does not understand the word quit.
02:19Imagine the pain that Nakamura is in right now. AJ Styles is not let up.
02:23Nakamura is not going to be able to walk for a month after the length of time. That was in the hole.
02:27A nice reversal there from AJ.
02:29Just went over. Oh no, Shin caught him in the arm bar. Shin caught him. Great cover by Nakamura.
02:35What a transition. AJ blocking. AJ blocking. He's got his hands together.
02:39So smart of AJ, but wow, fell into a trap there. I'm astounded that Nakamura was able to slip into that after the length of time in the calf crusher.
02:49And if these fingers break, so might the arm.
02:53AJ realizing that, trying to hang on here for dear life.
02:57Now Styles, they're going to stack up Nakamura.
03:01Shinsuke with the right hands.
03:02Absolute chess game this has turned out to be in the past two minutes or so.
03:07AJ! Come on, AJ!
03:08Triangle choke and AJ might be fading here.
03:11AJ's fading. You hear the official screaming, AJ, AJ.
03:14Styles now, though, lifting Nakamura up into the possession for the Styles Clash.
03:21Couldn't quite get it.
03:22The smart there from Shinsuke Nakamura moving the elbow, so AJ couldn't lock it.
03:27Oh, God!
03:29A sudden Kinshasa-like move by AJ Styles to Shinsuke Nakamura.
03:37Looking to deliver the kill shot.
03:41Looking for a key. Oh, and a knee gave out.
03:43He was looking for a Kinshasa.
03:45The knee gave out.
03:46And Styles with a Kinshasa of his own.
03:48Cover now on Nakamura.
03:50Hook of the leg.
03:52Nakamura kicks out at two.
03:59Nakamura blocked by Styles.
04:02Styles blocked Nakamura.
04:04Putting him into position here.
04:05Looking at the Styles Clash.
04:07Can he hook it in?
04:08No, Nakamura.
04:09Great counter.
04:10Styles rolls through.
04:11Shinsuke with a knee.
04:13Caught him.
04:14Both men are down.
04:15What a match.
04:18Nakamura again setting up in the corner for the kill shot.
04:25AJ begging him on.
04:28Nakamura knee first into the turnbuckle as Styles sidestepped.
04:32And that would have shot bolts of lightning all through the body of Nakamura.
04:36AJ sent out to the apron.
04:37Conor caught him with a forearm.
04:39Nakamura stunned.
04:40Missed with a kick.
04:41Oh, right back to the bad knee.
04:43And once again, time and time again, it's that left leg that's taken the abuse.
04:47Phenomenal forearm by Styles.
04:52AJ.
04:55Styles Clash.
04:58Cover.
04:58AJ with a win.
05:02Here is your winner.
05:07The phenomenal AJ Styles.
05:13Well, Wade, AJ wins tonight.
05:16You better give respect.
05:18You better give respect.
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05:28You better give respect.
05:29You better give respect.
05:31You better give respect.
05:32You better give respect.
05:33You better give respect.
05:34You better give respect.
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05:36You better give respect.
05:37You better give respect.
05:38You better give respect.
05:39You better give respect.
05:40You better give respect.
05:41You better give respect.
05:42You better give respect.
05:43You better give respect.
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