NJPW On AXS Recap (9/12): Huge AJ Styles Vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Jeff Jarrett, Former WWE Superstar

Welcome to Wrestling Inc's coverage of New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS TV. Tonight's show features an October 2014 match between Hiroshi Tanahashi and AJ Styles.

- We start off with Hiroshi Tanahashi explaining his respect for AJ Styles as an athlete. Jeff Jarrett is ringside with Styles for this match.

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IWGP Heavyweight Championship (October 2014)
AJ Styles (c) (w/ Jeff Jarrett) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

The two start off with a long period of chain wrestling that ends when Styles scores a big backbreaker. Tanahashi clotheslines Styles over the top rope, where Jarrett goes to check on AJ. Tanahashi runs Styles into the guard rails several times before landing a Northern Lights suplex on the floor. Styles then turns the tides and runs Tanahashi into the barricade.

Back inside the ring AJ Styles is in control and Josh Barnett calls Jeff Jarrett "Captain Ding Dong." It worked in context. Styles connects with a huge dropkick and too sweets Jarrett. Styles works Tanahashi over for several minutes until Hiroshi battles back with a series of forearms and a scoop slam. Tanahashi follows up with a somersault senton, but it only gets a two count. Styles gets sent to the outside of the ring where Tanahashi hits a big High Fly Flow to the outside. Both men are down.

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Back inside, Tanahashi gets caught going upstairs and Styles almost lands a Styles Clash, but instead settles for a corner suplex. Styles goes for another Clash, but Tanahashi gets out and hits a Jumbo suplex. A big capture German suplex gets only a two count for Tanahashi as we go to a commercial break. We come back to see a Styles Buster also only get a two count.

Tanahashi regains the advantage, and hits a High Fly Flow to Styles' back, then another one to the chest, but Jarrett pulls the ref out. Mauro and Josh Barnett are going off on commentary. Jarrett distracts Tanahashi long enough to allow Styles to hit the Pele and Bloody Sunday, but somehow Tanahashi kicks out. Styles goes for yet another Styles Clash, but he moves to 0-3, as a ref bump happens instead. Jeff Jarrett is in the ring with his guitar, ready to hit Tanahashi when Yoshi Tatsu returns and runs him off.

Tanahashi and Styles are trading shots, but Styles kicks Tanahashi in the plums, since there's no ref. The Ganso Bomb/Styles Driver lays Tanahashi out, but he gets the knees up on a springboard 450. Styles then gets his knees up on a High Fly Flow attempt. This is insanity. Styles goes up to the second rope for a Super Styles Clash, but he misses for a fourth time and is slammed to the mat. Cross body and High Fly Flow gets the win for Tanahashi.

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Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi via pinfall (High Fly Flow) to become IWGP Heavyweight Champion (October 2013)

Yoshi Tatsu is backstage, saying he couldn't stand by and watch what Jarrett was doing.

Okada and Gedo join Tanahashi in the ring with Okada's briefcase. Gedo tells Tanahashi he'll be facing Okada at the Tokyo Dome. Tanahashi thanks the fans for everything and says he's up for the challenge.

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