A.J. Styles

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Allen Jones (born June 2, 1978 in Gainesville, Georgia), better known by his ring name A.J. Styles, is an American professional wrestler. Styles is currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, with whom he is under contract until 2008. He is currently half of the NWA World Tag Team Champions with Christopher Daniels.

Career

Allen Jones attended Anderson College in Anderson, South Carolina on a partial wrestling scholarship. During his time at college, he participated in the 1998 NAIA National Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada before leaving Anderson College to pursue his professional wrestling career.

NWA Wildside

Allen Jones was trained by Rick Michaels and debuted on February 15, 1999 in the Georgia-based National Championship Wrestling promotion as Mr. Olympia, losing to Michael Brooks in his first match. He achieved considerable success in NCW, winning both the Television and Lightweight Championships within eight months. In December 1999 NCW merged with NWA Georgia to form NWA Wildside, and Jones was renamed A.J. Styles.

Styles won his second Television Championship on January 11, 2000, defeating K-Krush in Cornelia, Georgia. He lost the title to Eddie Golden on April 1, and regained it for a third time on January 6, 2001, defeating Air Paris during his only run as a heel in NWA Wildside as a member of attorney Jeff G. Bailey's NWA Elite stable. His final reign ended on February 21 when he lost to Robbie Rage in Athens, Georgia.

Following his stint in World Championship Wrestling, Styles returned to Wildside and began pursuing the NWA Wildside Heavyweight Championship, then held by his trainer and mentor, "The Original Chosen One" Rick Michaels. He defeated Michaels for the title on December 22, 2001, at Christmas Chaos using a top rope Styles Clash. While champion, Styles engaged in a rivalry with former manager Jeff G. Bailey's copycat version of Styles, "The Role Model" Jason Cross, who debuted as a total clone of Styles, all the way down to his in-ring attire and finishing move (this angle was later partially reused on a larger scale by Ring of Honor, with Jimmy Rave acting as Styles's doppelgänger).

Styles lost the NWA Wildside Heavyweight Championship to David Young in a three way dance that also included Rick Michaels on March 23, 2002 at Hardcore Hell. Shortly thereafter, Styles signed a contract with NWA:TNA and only returned to Wildside for sporadic special appearances due to an increase in his higher profile bookings. These special appearances reached an apex at Freedom Fight in July 2002, where Styles was the final man entered into the "Holy Wars" steel cage match for the Wildside Championship. The then-TNA X Division Champion, Styles was pinned by long-time rival "All That" Adam Jacobs. He made several more appearances throughout 2002, defeating Sonny Siaki, Jorge Estrada, and Jacey North in various one on one encounters.

In March 2003, Styles defeated former rival Ron "The Truth" Killings at Hardcore Hell. In October 2003 he headlined another Wildside card, facing "The Soul Assassin" Rainman. Styles had been the NWA World Heavyweight Champion at the time of booking, and this was scheduled to be a title match, but Jeff Jarrett defeated Styles for the title just three days prior to the scheduled bout. As a result, Jarrett agreed to defend the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in a three way match. However, Jarrett withdrew from the event at the last minute, leaving Styles and Rainman to fight one another in a non-title match which was won by Rainman following interference from Jeff G. Bailey. Styles defeated David Young at Christmas Chaos in December 2003. On March 26, 2004 at the two-night Hardcore Hell event he defeated his protégé, "Kool" Seth Delay in an impromptu match, then teamed with Gabriel and Altar Boy Luke (with Dusty Rhodes in their corner) to defeat Rainman, Azrael and "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels in a six man tag team main event on the following night.

After an absence of almost one year, Styles returned to Wildside on March 25, 2005, losing to Wildside mainstay David Young in a match that received a standing ovation from fans in attendance. He wrestled at the last ever NWA Wildside event, Last Rites, on April 30, 2005, competing in a three way match that was won by Jason Cross and that also involved Jimmy Rave.

World Championship Wrestling

World Championship Wrestling, a global promotion which often recruited talent from NWA Wildside, observed the feud between Styles and Paris, and both men were offered contracts in early-2001. Styles and Paris were placed in a tag team named "Air Raid", with the gimmick of the team being that both men would dress in G-suits.

Air Raid made appearances on WCW Thunder, and on the March 5, 2001, episode of WCW Monday Nitro they were entered in a tournament for the newly created WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championships. They were eliminated from the tournament in the first round by the eventual winners, Elix Skipper and Kid Romeo.

After WCW was purchased by the World Wrestling Federation in March 2001, Styles was left without a job. He returned to NWA Wildside, this time competing for the Wildside Heavyweight Championship, and wrestled several matches for the WWF on WWF Jakked. Styles was offered a developmental deal by the WWF in April 2002. The proffered contract was for $500 USD per week, and required Styles to relocate to Cincinnati, Ohio, where the Heartland Wrestling Association developmental territory was located. He declined to sign, reasoning that he could earn more money on the independent circuit, and that moving would interfere with his wife's college plans.

World Wrestling All-Stars

Styles toured Australia with the short-lived World Wrestling All-Stars (WWA) promotion in April 2002. He made his pay-per-view debut at WWA Eruption on April 13 in Melbourne, defeating Nova and Jerry Lynn in a one-night four man tournament to become the WWA International Cruiserweight Champion. He later vacated the title.

Ring of Honor

Styles joined Ring of Honor in 2002. He became the first ever ROH Pure Wrestling Champion in 2004, defeating CM Punk in the finals of a one-night title tournament. However, Styles, along with Christopher Daniels, was forced to leave ROH in 2004 when TNA withdrew all of its contracted employees from ROH, and was thus obliged to vacate the Pure Wrestling Championship.

Styles returned to ROH in 2005 and began feuding with Jimmy Rave, whom he had mentored before the ROH-TNA split. During Styles' year-long absence, Rave had "betrayed" Styles by siding with The Embassy, a heel stable led by the wealthy Ghanian Prince Nana. Known as the "Crown Jewel of the Embassy", Rave had even began using Styles' finishing move, the Styles Clash, calling it the "Rave Clash" and claimed that he been the inventor of the move. Rave won the first match between he and Styles by spraying Styles in face with a can of air freshener and rolling him up for the three count. The second match between the two saw Styles get the win back with a roll up. After the match, Rave attempted to suffocate Styles with a plastic bag. The feud culminated in a violent brawl at Glory By Honor IV on September 17, 2005, with the stipulation that the loser could no longer use the Styles/Rave Clash in ROH. Styles won the bout with Mick Foley in his corner after giving Rave a Super Styles Clash (a Styles Clash from the second turnbuckle) through a table.

Styles faced Japanese wrestler CIMA of the Dragon Gate promotion at Dragon Gate Invasion in Buffalo, New York, once again losing to a roll-up. At the January 28, 2006 ROH show, he unsuccessfully challenged Bryan Danielson for the ROH World Heavyweight Championship.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

2002

In May 2002, Styles was signed to a non-exclusive contract by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), and dubbed "The Phenomenal" A.J. Styles (a sobriquet originally coined by NWA Wildside commentator Dan "The Dragon" Wilson). He appeared on the first weekly TNA pay-per-view, teaming with Jerry Lynn and Low-Ki and losing to the Flying Elvises (Jorge Estrada, Sonny Siaki and Jimmy Yang) after he was pinned by Yang. The following week, on June 26, Styles defeated Lynn, Low-Ki and Psicosis in a double elimination match to become the first ever TNA X Division Champion. He won a second title on the third TNA pay-per-view, teaming with Jerry Lynn and defeating Lenny Lane and Bruce in the finals of a tournament for the vacant NWA World Tag Team Championships.

Styles successfully defended both his titles in the following weeks, but began to bicker with the veteran Lynn during their matches together. On August 14, he and Lynn fought Ron Killings and Jeff Jarrett to a no-contest, and the titles were held-up as a result. The following week, he and Lynn fought one another in a falls count anywhere match (which was won by Lynn), a no disqualification match (which was won by Styles) and a ten minute iron man match, which ended in a draw after both men scored three pinfalls. On August 28, Styles defended the X Division Championship against Lynn and Low-Ki in a ladder match, and lost his title to Lynn.

Recruiting Mortimer Plumtree and Sonny Siaki as allies, Styles continued to feud with Lynn in successive weeks. On October 23, he defeated Syxx-Pac for the X Division Championship, thus becoming a two time champion. He lost the title to Lynn a second time on November 6, and tried unsuccessfully to regain it throughout the remainder of the year.

2003

In 2003, Styles began focusing on the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. After defeating David Flair on January 15 to become the number one contender, Styles recruited the help of Larry Zbyszko and joined Vince Russo's Sports Entertainment Xtreme faction. Styles faced NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett on February 19, but was defeated. In the course of the match, Styles turned face, attacking S.E.X. as they tried to interfere on his behalf because he did not want to win in that manner.

Styles feuded briefly with Raven and Glenn Gilberti before forming a new tag team with D'Lo Brown in April 2003. During their time together, Styles learned the frog splash (Art Barr version) from D'Lo, and D'Lo likewise picked up A.J.'s suicide plancha. The tag team amiably disbanded on May 28 so that both men could pursue the NWA World Heavyweight Championship once again. They fought one another on June 4 in a number one contendership match which was won by Styles, and on June 11 Styles faced Jarrett and Raven in a three way match for the Heavyweight Championship. Styles won the match and the title (becoming the first TNA Triple Crown winner in the process) after Vince Russo entered the ring and struck Jarrett with a guitar, then celebrated with Russo following his victory, thus turning heel once again. On June 18, 2003, at the first TNA anniversary show, Jarrett and Sting defeated Styles and his mystery partner, Syxx Pac.

Throughout July 2003, Styles successfully defended his title in matches with D'Lo Brown. Throughout the remainder of his reign, he defeated a myriad selection of opponents before losing the title to Jarrett on October 22. Following his loss, Styles reverted to being a face, while Jarrett became a heel. Despite Jarrett's demand that Styles return to the X Division, Styles continued to pursue the World Heavyweight Championship. On November 12, he teamed with Sting to defeat Jarrett and Lex Luger. Styles faced Jarrett for the Heavyweight Championship on December 3, but lost following interference from Kid Kash.

2004

In January 2004, Styles was named "Mr. TNA" by the fans of TNA in an online poll. Styles feuded with Jeff Jarrett and Abyss throughout January and on February 4, after Styles demanded a title shot, Jarrett's ally Don Callis forced him to team with Abyss in a match with the NWA World Tag Team Champions, Kevin Northcutt and Legend. Abyss hindered Styles' efforts before abandoning him completely, but Styles managed to defeat both of his opponents nonetheless, thus becoming a two time NWA World Tag Team Champion with Abyss as his partner. The following week, Styles defeated Abyss in a match for both tag team titles by disqualification after Jarrett interfered. His victory was overturned by Callis, leading to another match the following week which was won by Abyss after Lex Luger interfered, thus granting Abyss control of both titles. Abyss and Styles continued to feud, and on March 17 Abyss defeated Styles to become the number one contender to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

On April 21, Chris Harris, scheduled to face Jarrett in a title match that night, was attacked by Raven. As a result, Vince Russo, by now the TNA Director of Authority, selected Styles to face Jarrett in his place in a steel cage match. When Jarrett tried to hit Styles with his guitar, Russo tried to stop him through the cage, allowing Styles to get up and shatter the guitar mid-swing with a Pele kick. Styles pinned Jarrett to become a two-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion. He successfully defended the title in matches with Ron Killings, Raven and Chris Harris, and on May 19 he defended against all three men in a four way title match. Styles lost his title to Killings after Jarrett interfered in the match, hitting him with a guitar. On June 2, all five men fought for the title in a King of the Mountain match which was won by Jarrett.

Styles returned to the X Division shortly thereafter, winning a four way match to become the number one contender to the X Division Championship on the June 4 episode of TNA iMPACT!. On June 9, he defeated Frankie Kazarian to become a three time X Division Champion. In the following weeks, Styles feuded with Kid Kash and Dallas while successfully defending his title in matches with Kazarian and Mr. Aguila. On July 28, he defended the title against Kazarian and Michael Shane in an Ultimate X match. After Kash struck Styles with a crutch, Shane and Kazarian simultaneously retrieved the belt and became co-X Division Champions.

After several abortive attempts to regain the title, Styles fought Kash in a number of matches, culminating in a tables match on September 8 which was won by Styles. In October he began feuding with Petey Williams, by now the TNA X Division Champion, and on November 7 at TNA Victory Road 2004, the first monthly pay-per-view held by TNA, Styles challenged Williams for the X Division Championship. During the weeks preceding the match, Styles even went as far as to use William's own finisher, the Canadian Destroyer, after Williams himself performed the Styles Clash on others. Williams retained his title with the help of his manager, Scott D'Amore. Later that night, Jeff Jarrett retained the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in a ladder match with Jeff Hardy after Scott Hall and Kevin Nash interfered in the match. Following the bout, the trio proclaimed themselves to be the "Kings of Wrestling" and issued an open challenge to the rest of the TNA roster. Several wrestlers charged the ring in response to the challenge, including the 3Live Kru, "Macho Man" Randy Savage and Styles.

On the November 12 episode of TNA iMPACT!, Styles and Jeff Hardy teamed together to defeat The Naturals. Following the match, they were attacked by the Kings of Wrestling. After several more confrontations, Hardy, Styles and Savage teamed together to face the Kings of Wrestling at TNA Turning Point 2004 on December 5. Despite Savage not appearing until late in the match, the Kings of Wrestling were defeated when Savage entered the match and rolled-up Jarrett.

2005

Styles returned to the X Division in 2005, and on January 16 at TNA Final Resolution 2005 he won the X Division Championship for a fourth time in an Ultimate X match, defeating Chris Sabin and the reigning champion, Petey Williams. On the January 21 episode of TNA iMPACT!, "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels accused Styles of "ducking him" (Styles and Daniels had never fought one another in a singles match in TNA). After Daniels challenged Styles to a match at the next monthly TNA pay-per-view, TNA Director of Authority Dusty Rhodes announced that Styles and Daniels would fight that day, with Daniels receiving a title shot if Styles could not defeat him within ten minutes. Daniels lasted ten minutes, and subsequently faced Styles in a match for the X Division Championship at TNA Against All Odds 2005 on February 13. The match was a thirty minute iron man match, and ended in a draw after thirty minutes, with both men having scored a single pinfall. Dusty Rhodes restarted the match, albeit with "sudden death" rules, and Styles defeated Daniels to retain his title.

The feud between Styles and Daniels continued, and at TNA Destination X 2005 on March 13, Styles defended his title against Daniels, Ron Killings and "Primetime" Elix Skipper in an Ultimate X Challenge. Skipper eliminated Killings and Daniels eliminated Skipper, thus reducing the match to a singles contest. With the referee unconscious, Styles was able to retrieve the belt, but Daniels knocked him out with the Angel's Wings and then embraced the title belt. When the referee recovered shortly thereafter, he saw both men prone but Daniels with the title belt, and awarded the match and the X Division Championship to Daniels.

Having lost the X Division Championship, Styles began feuding with Abyss. At TNA Lockdown 2005 on April 24, he defeated Abyss in a steel cage match to become the number one contender to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Styles went on to face the defending champion, Jeff Jarrett, at TNA Hard Justice 2005 on May 15. After Jarrett pushed the special guest referee, cage fighter, Tito Ortiz, Ortiz knocked him down with a punch, enabling Styles to hit his Spiral Tap maneuver (which he had not used for several months) and pin Jarrett for his third NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Styles defended the title against Sean Waltman, Raven, "The Alpha Male" Monty Brown and Abyss at TNA Slammiversary 2005 on June 19 in a King of the Mountain match which was won by Raven.

On the July 1 episode of TNA iMPACT!, Styles was involved in a confrontation with Sean Waltman. They faced one another at TNA No Surrender 2005 on July 17 in a match which was refereed by Jerry Lynn, who had teamed with and fought against both men in the past. The match was won by Styles after Lynn prevented Waltman from cheating. Styles then returned to his perennial pursuit of the X Division Championship, entering the TNA 2005 Super X Cup Tournament, which granted the winner a shot at the X Division Championship. Styles defeated Matt Bentley in the quarter-finals and Petey Williams in the semi-finals, but lost to Samoa Joe at TNA Sacrifice 2005 on August 14. However, as Christopher Daniels (the reigning X Division champion) had interfered in the match, TNA Director of Authority Larry Zbyszko added Styles to the resultant title bout. On September 11 at TNA Unbreakable, Styles defeated Samoa Joe and Daniels in a three way match to become the TNA X Division Champion for a fifth time.

On the inaugural episode of iMPACT! on Spike TV on October 1, Styles defeated Roderick Strong in the first match of the night. During the match, he performed his signature no-hands somersault plancha over the top rope onto Strong on the outside of the ring. While executing the move, Styles' feet went over the guard rail surrounding the ring, and the heel of one of his boots struck an audience member, Ryan Jevec, in the face. Jevec received minor medical treament for a black eye backstage, but was back in the audience within minutes. Styles also joined the International Assault tour of Australia in October 2005

Styles defeated Daniels to retain the X Division Championship in a thirty minute Iron Man match at TNA Bound For Glory on October 23. That same evening, Petey Williams won an Ultimate X match to become the number one contender to the TNA X Division Championship, receiving a title shot against Styles at TNA Genesis 2005 on November 13. Due to technical problems, Williams was forced to defend his title shot in another Ultimate X match on November 3, which he again won. Styles lost to Williams in a non-title finisher challenge on November 12, but was able to defeat Williams at Genesis following a top-rope Styles Clash.

On the November 19 episode of iMPACT!, Styles challenged Samoa Joe to a match at TNA Turning Point 2005, claiming that Joe had broken the X Division "code of respect" by assaulting his partner, Christopher Daniels, following their match at Genesis. Joe defeated Styles at Turning Point, thus becoming the new X Division Champion.

2006

On the January 1 episode of iMPACT!, Styles and Daniels teamed together to face America's Most Wanted for the NWA World Tag Team Championships. They were defeated after Shannon Moore attacked Styles, allowing America's Most Wanted to score the victory.

Styles won the 2005 Mr. TNA award (for the third consecutive time). During the ceremony the plaque was stolen by Shannon Moore. Styles successfully defeated New Japan Pro Wrestling wrestler Hiroshi Tanahashi in an "International X Showcase" match at TNA Final Resolution 2006 on January 15, 2006. Shannon Moore interfered during the match, hitting Tanahashi accidentally with the plaque, allowing Styles to score his Styles Clash finisher for the victory. After the match, Tanahashi returned the plaque to Styles, but Moore stole the plaque back.

At TNA Against All Odds 2006 on February 12, 2006, Styles and Daniels challenged Samoa Joe for the X Division Championship in a rematch of Unbreakable. Styles lost the bout when he was given a Muscle Buster by Joe, who then pinned him to retain. Samoa Joe defended the X Division Championship against Styles and Daniels in an Ultimate X match at TNA Destination X 2006 on March 12, 2006, and lost the belt to Daniels.

At TNA Lockdown 2006 on April 23, 2006, Styles, Ron Killings, Rhino and Sting faced Jeff Jarrett, America's Most Wanted and Scott Steiner in a Lethal Lockdown match. In the course of the match, Styles placed James Storm on a table atop the cage and then climbed a ladder to a light fitting near the ceiling of the arena, then delivered a splash to the supine Storm, driving him through the table. Sting's team won the bout after Sting forced Chris Harris to submit.

Styles went on to join forces with Christopher Daniels and challenge America's Most Wanted for the NWA World Tag Team Championship. After losing to America's Most Wanted in title matches on two occasions, Styles and Daniels won the NWA World Tag Team Championship on June 18, 2006 at TNA Slammiversary 2006. The win made Styles both a three time tag team champion and a three time Triple Crown Champion.

Wrestling facts

• Finishing moves

*Styles Clash (Belly to back inverted mat slam)

*Super Styles Clash (Top rope belly to back inverted mat slam)

*Spiral Tap (Somersault corkscrew leg drop or somersault corkscrew senton)

*Crash and Burn (Tandem front slam) - with Air Paris

• Signature moves

*Cliffhanger (Inverted sitout side powerslam)

*Fosbury Flop (Backflip high jump no-hands plancha)

*Pelé Kick (Backflip kick)

*Phenomenon / Stylin' DDT (Quebrada into inverted DDT)

*Shooting Styles Press (Springboard shooting star press)

*Starmaker (Backdrop driver)

*Styles Suplex Special (Vertical suplex into neckbreaker slam)

*Stylin' Crab (Boston crab)

*Superman (Springboard 450° splash)

*Spine Breaker (Backbreaker into gutbuster)

*Air raid crash

*Argentine backbreaker rack into an Argentine powerbomb

*Frog splash

*Kip-up huracanrana

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