TNA World Heavyweight Championship
Rob Van Dam (c) vs. AJ Styles w/ Ric Flair
Jeremy Borash did the in-ring introductions for the champion Rob Van Dam and the challenger AJ Styles. RVD stalls a bit and jumps up on the top rope for a reaction from the crowd. Flair yells at the referee to get the match going. RVD attempts a pose, Styles tries to get in a cheap kick, RVD dodges it, misses a side kick and Styles backs up. Lock up and Styles powers RVD to the corner. Styles pulled on the hair of RVD and RVD complained to the referee about it. RVD fires back giving Styles a clothesline over the top rope to the outside. RVD follows out and Styles gets in a big chest chop. Styles attempts a moonsault off the entrance ramp, RVD moves, Styles lands on his feet, RVD hits a moonsault of his own and connects on Styles. RVD gets in the ring and does the RVD pose as the fans chant along. Flair then grabs the legs of RVD and referee Earl Hebner sees this. Hebner sends Flair to the back. Flair gets in Hebner’s face and Hebner knocks him down. Flair flips out in classic style and Hebner tells him to get to the back.
Styles argues with Hebner. Flair joins Tenay and Taz on commentary saying Earl Hebner is a dead man. Back ringside, Styles takes out RVD with a huge flip dive over the top rope. Back in the ring, Styles plants RVD with a scoop slam and then drops a flying knee over the head of RVD. RVD is tossed over the top rope to the ramp where RVD catches his face on it and falls to the outside. When RVD is back in the two exchange elbows. RVD fights back with right hands backing Styles up. Styles with a big boot on RVD, DDT attempt and connects with a big spinning tornado DDT on RVD. Styles stays on RVD hitting some big rights and then a huge standing dropkick. Styles covers RVD, flexes and RVD powers out after two. Taz is quite entertained by Flair on commentary as every camera shot they show of him he is just smiling. In the ring, RVD catches Styles with a huge kick to the face. RVD drops Styles with a few clotheslines and then a big superkick sending Styles back to the corner. Styles dodges a spin kick from RVD and hits a few chops.
RVD with a huge monkey flip on Styles. Flair let out a, “Jesus!” on commentary. Flair kept talking about how every time RVD did a pose he lost a second to take out Styles. Styles with a springboard clothesline on RVD. RVD with a northern lights suplex into a bridge on Styles for a close two count. Styles with a small package on RVD for another close two count. RVD then crotches Styles on the top rope and RVD hits a springboard kick to the head. Styles counters a Rolling Thunder attempt by RVD by getting his knees up. Styles gets RVD up on his shoulders and starts applying a torture rack into a spinning powerbomb for another close two count. Styles with a flying forearm to the head in the corner on RVD. Styles looks to attempt a Styles Clash, RVD flips Styles back, Styles into a rollup, RVD into a cover, more counters and both meet in the middle of the ring for a double clothesline. Both RVD and Styles are down as the referee starts the count. They fight to their feet and exchange right hands. RVD with some kicks and counters into a leg scissors pinfall.
More pinfall attempts between the two that are countered. Styles with a springboard inverted DDT that results in a two count. Styles with a springboard 450 splash and RVD moves out of the way. Flair throws down his headset at the announcers table and starts heading to the ring when Jay Lethal walks out. Lethal chases down Flair, gives him a low blow and then applies a figure four. Flair screams out in pain. In the ring, Styles crotches RVD up on the top turnbuckle. Styles attempts a superplex, but RVD brings himself down to the ring apron catching AJ’s throat on the top rope. RVD jumps and connects with the Five Star Frog Splash. RVD covers Styles and gets the pinfall.
Winner & STILL TNA World Heavyweight Champion: Rob Van Dam
After the match, Jay Lethal unlocks the figure four on Ric Flair. Referee Earl Hebner then hands Rob Van Dam the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. We then see highlights of the match leading to the finish.
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