[2016-01-16-Revolution Pro-High Stakes] A.J. Styles vs Zack Sabre Jr

[cactus]

Heavily influenced by World of Sport wrestling, This was a clinic in technical wrestling. AJ was understandable avoiding back bumps, so instead he gets his limps contorted in every possible way by ZSB. Even though the mat work was exceptional, I feel this needed more going for it to venture into ★★★★+ territory. Maybe if ZSB worked this as a sympathetic babyface, I would of enjoyed this more. Regardless, this is still essential viewing for any fan of intense mat wrestling that actually features a struggle.
★★★¾

[Phil Schneider]

This was very indy juniors dream match style, which isn't really my thing, but this was a pretty great version of that match. I really liked the opening scramble sections of this, which were functionally Guerrero v. Malenko roll up, but with completely different spots. Styles has very powerful and aggressive take downs which really add interest to any jockying for position. I also really dug all of the different ways both guys got into there submissions, very creative stuff, Styles especially has a bunch of nasty ways to work in his ankle slicer. They did a strike exchange section which was a bit superfluous, but the finish run was pretty good, and I liked the finishing submission a bunch.

[GOTNW]

I really liked the opening, you don't really think of AJ Styles as this great matworker but he's bound to do interesting stuff once the match gets on the ground and he busted out some cool transitions and pin attempts here. They were kind of lost in the middle, instead of continuing with the limbwork they just did more control segment exchanging, to be fair to them both they did some really cool stuff, AJ's got an awesome Backbreaker and his Hammerlock Backdrop/Pumphandle Gutbuster combo was unreal, I loved the way Sabre countered AJ's Dropkick by just pulling him down, it's not that this match lacked cool stuff but I'd have wanted to see them connected in better fashion. I also enjoyed the struggle over the Calf Killer. The big lackluster strike exchange is a good thing to point to in why this felt more like two world class wrestlers having a good house show main event than a great match. ***1/4