It’s time for the “Fan Favourites” match this week, where I review a match via request from the fans.
Chad Campbell of Place to be Nation sent in this request via twitter (you can follow me) and it is for CM Punk vs AJ Styles from IWA-MS. Chad has recently started a series looking back at IWA-MS called “The Last Territory” that I suggest everybody check out. He will not get to this match for a long time, but we will compare notes then.
There is a few more factors that make this a great choice. One is the Greatest Wrestler Ever Project taking place at Pro Wrestling Only, as these are two guys who look to be making my top 100 list. The other factor is that AJ Styles just made his WWE debut on Sunday at the Royal Rumble, so it’s nice to check up on a younger version of him right now.
Let’s get this out of the way first, this match is really great. It’s a great mix of old school and new school to create a modern classic.
The Old School
This match starts with a collar and elbow lock up and moves into matwork. The first 1/3 of the match is spent with Punk attacking AJ’s arm with submissions. AJ gets some counters and it’s a well laid out slow build to set up the rest of the match. There is a lot of neat old school things while working the arm, like AJ whipping Punk into the corner while Punk holds on and viciously drags AJ to the mat.
Later on CM Punk misses a move and his neck is hurt. This means that each wrestler has a focus for their offence and an easy way to get counters. Through out the match both men go back to the other’s injury to survive the contest.
By the way, AJ Styles has an amazing dropkick. It’s Jim Brunzell level.
The New School
How does Punk injure his neck? A missed tope.
Of course a lot of the offense is not old school. Instead of lariats by AJ, we get discuss lariats. There is a plancha, a tope, plus all of CM Punk and AJ Style’s trademark offense.
There is no true heel or face in this match either and the crowd is split.
A Modern Classic
The first comeback by AJ is such a great sequence after numerous awesome hope spots. It starts with AJ being able to toss Punk to the floor. He goes for a plancha, but Punk moves. Punk goes for a tope, where he moves which injures his neck.
One of my favourite moments of the match is AJ going for his Asai Moonsault into a Reverse DDT that is countered by Punk grabbing the injured arm. Punk then tries a suplex, but he can’t do it with his injured neck.
We move on for some great nearfalls, before AJ is able to hit that Asai Moonsault into a Reverse DDT, but it was on the floor. That looked amazing. It lead to a very dramatic 19 count where Punk got into the ring at the last second.
The finishing sequence is really hot. AJ goes for the Styles Clash, but Punk gets into the corner. Since that didn’t work, AJ goes for a superplex. Punk tries to counter with a Pepsi Plunge, but the injured neck allows AJ to fight out. A Tornado DDT is thrown off and AJ hits two discus lariats for a huge nearfall. A Shining Wizard by Punk gets two, then Punk’s Anaconda Vice gets a dramatic tap out submission. AJ’s arm was too injured to survive.
Rating: **** 1/2
Thanks to Chad for this “Fan Favourite” request, because it was a real pleasure to watch. It also shows that you can have old school classics with new school twists.
Remember to check out next Thursday for another “Fan Favourite”. If you want a match of your choosing reviewed here, either comment below, post on Pro Wrestling Only or hit me up on twitter.
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