TNA Sacrifice: Rob Van Dam Vs. AJ Styles (TNA World Title)
Backstage:
Christy Hemme is backstage with RVD. He says that this is the first of many interviews. He says this Championship is different from many that he's held in the past because he stands for everything the TNA Title stands for. He's the best, coolest, most popular wrestler in TNA, and he'll stay the Champion. He says let Styles complain, because he'll come around that with RVD in TNA, more people will be coming to see him, but more people will see him getting his ass kicked, because he's RVD, and he's the whole F'n show.
TNA Championship Match
Rob Van Dam (c) vs. AJ Styles
We get a video package, mixing in ring footage with backstage 'off the cuff' interview footage of RVD. It sets up the title match very nicely.
AJ Styles is shown backstage, walking to the ringside area with Ric Flair in tow. Styles flips up his hood on his robe before walking out. When he hits the entranceway, he gets a warm reception from the crowd. The Champion is next, shown walking to the ring from the backstage area. When he hits the Impact Zone, the reaction is great, with a ton of love from the fans.
We get formal ring introductions from JB, and like every TNA PPV main event, after much, much, much fanfare, we're finally ready to kick things off.
After a lot of standing around, and some posing from RVD, both go for a kick, with neither scoring. More standing around and a bit more posing. We finally get a lock up, and AJ pulls Van Dam's hair, using it to pull him back into the corner. AJ and Van Dam get in each other's faces, and RVD poses again. AJ tries to interrupt, but he ends up on the recieving end of a clothesline from RVD that sends him to the outside. Van Dam poses again, and AJ uses the opportunity to pull him to the outside, where he goes to work with chops. AJ tries to send Van Dam head first into the entrance ramp, but when he tries for a moonsault off the entrance ramp, RVD avoids it and connects with one of his own before rolling back into the ring and posing again.
AJ is able to make it back into the ring, and Flair distracts RVD, leading to Earl Hebner ejecting Flair from the ringside area. Flair protests, but eventually makes his way to the back. AJ sulks on the outside and argues with Hebner, but Hebner won't budge. Flair goes to the announce table. RVD goes to the outside but AJ catches him with a right hand and rolls back into the ring. RVD tries to follow, but Styles sends him back to the outside into the barricade, and follows him with a tope over the top rope. AJ rolls RVD back into the ring where he stomps at Van Dam. Flair on commentary is very distracting, not in a good way. Styles slams RVD down and hits a beautiful knee drop.
RVD scores with a kick to Styles' face out of nowhere, and he follows it up by pounding on AJ in the corner. Styles is able to charge RVD in the corner, but RVD gets his elbow up. When he climbs the ropes though, RVD finds himself shoved off face first into the entrance ramp. Styles rolls RVD back into the ring and he goes for a quick cover but he only gets two. AJ locks in a rear chin lock with his knee in Van Dam's back for extra leverage. RVD is able to get to the ropes to force a break, so AJ pulls him back to his feet. AJ and RVD trade chops and forearms respectively, with AJ getting the advantage. RVD fights right back with a series of rights, but he runs into a big boot and a tornado DDT from Styles that's good for a near fall.
AJ hits a series of stiff kicks to RVD's back, just laying them in. Styles chokes RVD against the middle rope, and he gets into it with Hebner upon breaking the hold. RVD tries to fight back against Styles, but Styles hits a series of rights to RVD's face, and a dropkick to RVD, who's on his knees. Styles locks in a rear chin lock, but RVD is able to fight up to his feet. Styles tries to send him into the corner, but RVD comes back with a springboard single leg dropkick and both men are down.
Van Dam hits Styles with a couple of clotheslines and a big kick that sends AJ into the corner. RVD rolls into Styles and hits a monkey flip, launching him over. RVD goes up top and tries for the 5 Star frog splash, but Styles is able to move out of the way. Styles connects with a sprinboard clothesline that's good for a two count. Styles rolls RVD up, but it's still not enough to keep him down. RVD tries to come back, but Styles responds with a Pele kick that's good for another near fall.
RVD avoids a splash in the corner, and connects with a Northern lights suplex that's good for a two count. Both men are back on their feet, and Styles is able to lock in a small package for two. RVD hits a reverse Manhattan drop, before crotching AJ on the top rope, and leaping to the top turnbuckle to a single leg dropkick. RVD tries for rolling thunder, but Styles gets his knees up to block it. Styles gets Van Dam up in a torture rack, and spins him out into a powerbomb, that's good for a two count. RVD is able to kick AJ away, but AJ comes right back with a flying forearm that's good for another near fall.
Styles goes for the Styles clash, but RVD counters out of it, and both men trade roll ups. Both men go for, and connect with clotheslines at the same time and both men are down.
RVD and Styles trade blows in the middle of the ring and RVD gets the advantage with a pretty innovative roll up. Styles goes for the figure four but finds himself rolled up again. Styles charges RVD in the corner but ends up backdropped out to the apron. AJ jumps back into the ring onto the second turnbuckle, and connects with the moonsault DDT. Styles tries for the springboard 450, but RVD moves out of the way. Flair runs back down to the ringside area, but Jay Lethal is out to stop Flair from interfering. Lethal and Flair trade chops on the entrance ramp, with Flair getting the advantage. Lethal connects with a low blow, and a chop of his own before locking in a figure four on the Nature Boy.
Back in the ring, Styles crotches RVD on the top turnbuckle, and tries for a superplex, but RVD instead drives AJ throat first across the top rope. RVD goes to the top, and leaps off with the 5 Star frog splash. RVD pins Styles, and this one is over.
Winner and STILL TNA World Champion: RVD