Early 2005 ROH is bringing the goods and this was another badass match. I don't really know much of the context or story behind the Styles/Rave feud, but Styles had been gone from ROH since March 2004 and Rave, who Styles had previously taken under his wing, has since joined the Embassy. Rave has been shit-talking AJ and accusing him of stealing the Styles Clash, and now AJ is back for one night before TNA locks him up again, defending the HONOUR of the Styles Clash against the wanton DUPLICITY of the Rave Clash. Maybe that's...all the context you need? I honestly don't think I've watched any ROH-era Styles in about ten years, possibly even as far back as 2006 when I was following show to show and he was still there. Man was he good in this. He was surly as a bastard, maybe the surliest I've ever seen him. Rave was happy to hang back a bit at the start but AJ was having none of it, and when Rave charged at him for the first time AJ just picked him up and about dumped him on his head. The early matwork was rough and there was an amazing bit where AJ had Rave in an arm wringer, started using Rave's own fist to punch him in the face and then fucking heaved him out the ring by the arm (Rave's bump through the ropes was great too). Rave throws him into the barricade, AJ jumps it and lands safely in the crowd, then when Rave tries to follow it up with a dive off the guardrail AJ catches him in midair and hits a NASTY suplex on a bunch of chairs. The chairs were standing upright as well so Rave landed with his neck across the back of one and it looked crazy reckless. All of AJ's offence was hit perfectly. Every dropkick, every slam, every modified version of whatever move he was doing, it was 10/10 for execution but most importantly it looked like he was actually trying to hurt Rave with it. When Rave was in control there was always the sense that AJ could string together a bit of offence and be right back to level footing again, so the presence of Nana on the floor made for a potential get-out if necessary. Outside the finish he never actually interfered all that much, he was mostly an annoyance that AJ let himself be goaded by once or twice, which I suppose was important in establishing Rave as being at least close to AJ's level. As I watch more of this feud I guess that gap closes a bit and Rave can handle things on his own a bit more effectively. The finish here was great though and Rave doesn't give one shit about your Code of Honour, so if he has to go full Rick Martel and shoot Febreze in your eyes he'll do it. They now have me hyped about how AJ will exact his revenge and really, that's just good pro-wrestling (I'm also interested in seeing how they bring him back again to do it, as this was sold as a one off appearance).
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