[2012-05-13-TNA-Sacrifice] A.J. Styles vs Kurt Angle

[Superstar Sleeze]

AJ Styles vs Kurt Angle - TNA Sacrifice 2012

 

Cant sleep so lets watch another AJ match. I am skipping March PPV because Mr. Anderson is AJ's tag partner against Daniels & Kaz. I am skipping April PPV because it is a Lethal Lockdown featuring the Bischoffs. I am not too excited for this match either as I generally dislike this pairing, but I did enjoy their match at Slammiversary 2013, which I was live for.

 

I would say this is probably the best match I have seen between these two until I rewatch the Slammiversary match. Angle is just absolutely horrid at transitions. Transitions are really important to me and he is just the dirt worst. AJ actually created his own transitions just to make this match watchable. Probably the reason I thought this was their best match is because it was just a routine, standard match so there was no chance for Angle to royally screw up a storyline. Basically, AJ does the dumb thing of trying to best Angle, an Olympic Gold Medalist or is it dumb?

 

Angle gives AJ as to say go ahead try to take me down so when Angle goes to squash it, AJ kicks him in the head. The beginning of the match actually does a pretty cool story. It is AJ's pro wrestling against Angle's amateur style. Angle is able to take AJ down at will and use his superior grip strength to control. However, whenever AJ is in trouble he does the old pro wrestling standby of punch someone in the face. They don't teach you that at the Olympics, Kurt! I loved how Aj was always shortening the distance between him and Kurt with dropkicks and punches. He totally decks Angle right in the face. It feels like AJ is wrestling very heelish but it is compelling. Angle is totally useless at selling any of this. Angle throws AJ with a high overhead belly to belly and is quite impressed with the tilt a whirl backbreaker AJ feeds him. Then it is snoozefest ville with Angle working lame holds. AJ hits a beautiful punch for a hope spot, but Angle barely even registers. You are horrible! They both his crossbodies at the same time. AJ is up first and mounts a comeback. Two Phenomenal Forearms, one to the floor, but he really hurts his back. This is what I mean by creating your own transition as he sells the hell out of it. Angle ignores and instead sets up for his run up the ropes belly to belly suplex, which does not even look that good this time. The finish stretch is fine it is Styles Clashes (by both men), Angle Slams and there it is entertaining. AJ fucks up a Springboard 450, which becomes a Springboard 270. Which was actually quite impactful. Daniels and Kaz interfere. Angle Slam->2 and Anglelock with grapevine taps AJ out. But hey Angle the Good Samaritan that he is saves AJ from Daniels & Kaz.

 

AJ looked good. Liked the beginning a lot. Once Angle took over, it got pretty boring. Finish stretch was pretty standard stuff. Hard to have a bad match with AJ, more boring than bad. Still enough good to be considered a good match. ***