[2002-11-06-NWA TNA] A.J. Styles vs Jerry Lynn

[Superstar Sleeze]

X Division Champion AJ Styles vs Jerry Lynn - NWA-TNA 11/6/02

 

AJ is 100% in this heel and establishes he is a very cocky little shit. This allows Jerry Lynn to take advantage when he is showboating. They also establish that they are very familiar with each other with all the reversals and misses, but it is Lynn that seems to be the one left standing. The first time it looks to shifts to AJ is when he hurdled the railing and he superkicked Lynn as he tried to give pursuit. AJ then tries a springboard guardrail move, but takes a kick to midsection. His cockiness gets the best of him again. AJ was ha been selling and bumping so much better than Lynn in this match. AJ baseball slide into a slingshot plancha. AJ even sells his own move! They trade attempted finish attempts. Styles wants the Styles Clash again, but Lynn forces AJ to settle for a Boston Crab, but he just gives up. Ugh. I hate when that happens. You could say AJ was in an awkward position. Plumtree distracts the red on a Lynn pinfall attempt. AJ ballshot and quebrada/Slop Drop. I hate how ballshots are no sold! How is anyone supposed to get heat if ballshots are sold like any other punch or kick!!!!!

 

Lynn hits a sitout powerbomb to level the playing field. Lynn starts his comeback back drop, clotheslines and hits a Northern Lights Suplex into the turnbuckles for two. Pretty gnarly bump by Styles. AJ & Plumtree collide heads and Cradle Piledriver. I bit on that finish as that is a pretty typical finish. TKO and Sonny Siaki pulled out ref (forgot that Sonny Siaki existed). Lynn ends up head first into a chair that Plumtree set up. Styles Clash -> 2. Only fair since AJ got to kick out of Cradle Piledriver. Spiral Tap!?!?!? Crotched. Lynn Superplex!!!! They do the WCW tombstone reversal spot with Lynn hitting a Cradel Tombstone.

I actually enjoyed the home stretch of this a good bit. Lots of hot nearfalls and it was exciting. The beginning was pedestrian, but effective. I thought the middle just meandered. Match elevated by the hot, dramatic finish run. ***1/2