TNA Lockdown: 'The Pope' Vs. AJ Styles (Cage Match - TNA World Title)

- We get a recap of the events that led up to this match, Pope winning the eight card stud tournament at Against All Odds that led to him becoming the number one contender to Styles' championship, and the events that have transpired since.

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TNA Championship Match
AJ Styles vs. D'Angelo Dinero

AJ Styles is the second man out to the ring, and Flair is there behind him, but he waits until the pyro dies down before walking out behind the champ. Earl Hebner is out on the entrance ramp, and he throws Flair out, saying he's not allowed at ringside for the match. Flair looks pissed, but Hebner shoves him and forces him to the back. It's pretty ridiculous to watch these two old men arguing and fighting. AJ protests Hebner's decision, but it seems to be final.

The bell rings, and we're ready to kick things off in this one. Both men lock up, and Styles takes Pope down with a quick hip toss. Pope is back on his feet, and they both lock up again, with Styles wrenching Dinero's arm. Pope fights out of it, and the two chain wrestle for a little while, with AJ and Pope both trying to work over each other's arm. AJ takes Pope over with an arm drag, and Pope looks a little frustrated. Pope goes behind Styles , but Styles gets out of it, tries to slam Pope's head into the cage. Pope fights out of it, almost gets a roll up, and the fans chants a deafening.

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Series of arm drags from Pope, and AJ is forced to back up into the corner to put on the brakes. Pope and AJ lock up, and Styles back him up into the corner, hitting him with a couple of chops. Pope turns it around and beats on Styles with a nice combination and a series of right hands. Pope blocks an inverted atomic drop and he responds with a quick clothesline. Pope sends AJ into the ropes and AJ comes back with a shoulder block, but he walks right into a flying forearm. Pope hits a couple of elbows and a big forearm, and the fans are really going wild. Pope charges AJ, but AJ sidesteps it and sends Pope right into the cage.

Pope catches a dropkick to the face from Styles, and Styles uses the opportunity to gloat for the crowd. Styles locks in a rear chin lock, but it's more up around Pope's nose area, but Pope is able to fight out of it with a couple of right hands. Pope hits a forearm, and AJ botches some kind of slam, so he just picks up Pope and plops him down. AJ works on Pope's knee, hitting an elbow and stomping away at it. Styles kicks out the back of Pope's knee, sending him crashing to the mat, but a second attempt, Pope blocks it and hits a quick chop. AJ pokes the eye, and he tries for the inverted springboard DDT, but Pope avoids it, sends AJ head first into the cage and hits a big DDT.

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Pope hits Styles with a series of shots that puts AJ down, and a big back body drop, and inverted atomic drop, along with a shoulder block continue the punishment. Pope hits a backhand slap, and a big twisting powerslam that's good for a two count. Pope picks Styles up and gets rammed into the corner. Styles hits a big chop, but when he charges in, Pope ducks it. Styles pokes the eye again, goes to the top and leaps off with a flying forearm. Styles goes for the pin but only gets two. Styles puts Pope on the top turnbuckle, but Pope fights him off. Styles is back up there, and Pope hits him with a headbutt. Pope points to the ceiling and hits a diving headbutt.

Pope shoulders Styles, but Styles fights out of it and hits the Pele kick. Styles goes for the pin, but Pope kicks out at two. Styles slams Pope down across his knee with a big backbreaker, and he goes up to the top rope, hitting a big springboard 450 splash, but Pope is still able to kick out!

AJ heads all the way to the top corner of the steel cage, and he jumps off, diving at Pope, but Pope moves. Pope comes in with a quick roll up, and Styles kicks out at two. Pope connects with a front DDE, and he goes for the pin, but Styles kicks out at two! Styles pulls himself up in the corner, and Pope goes for the DDE, but Styles moves. Styles grabs a pen from the cameraman, and uses it to jab Pope right in the eye. Styles hits a rolling clothesline, and follows it up with the Styles clash. Styles rolls him over into the pin, and gets the three count.

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Winner and STILL TNA World Champion: AJ Styles

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