Tremendous Tirades: Time Warner On Demand Free Match – AJ Styles vs. Kurt Angle

Posted by Larry Csonka on 06.20.2009

From Slammiversary 2008…

Right now, Time Warner On Demand has the AJ Styles vs. Kurt Angle match from Slammiversary 2008 on their Events Free Preview section.

AJ STYLES vs. KURT ANGLE w/Tomko

Lock up to begin, to the corner and they get separated. They do some mat work here, AJ hangs with Angle and gets the ropes. Lock up again, takedown by Angle into the side headlock. AJ to his feet, off the ropes and a shoulder block by Angle takes AJ down. Off the ropes, arm drag by AJ, another and then another. Angle rolls to the floor and takes a powder. The ref continues to warn Tomko to stay out of the action. Angle back in, boot to AJ and then shots to the back. Uppercuts follow, off the ropes and AJ gets the sweet dropkick. To the corner and rights by AJ, boots follow and Angle is down. Tomko distracts AJ momentarily, Angle rakes the eyes and follows with uppercuts. Irish whip, Angle misses a charge and collides with the steel post, springboard forearm shot by AJ gets a close 2. Angle manages an uppercut and AJ is sent to the floor. Tomko stalks AJ, the ref is out and TOSSES Tomko to the back. Angle to the floor and slams AJ to the railing as security is out to escort Tomko to the back. Angle argues with the ref about it but tough shit buddy. AJ knocks Angle to the floor…SENTON to the floor wipes out Angle, who grabs his neck right away. AJ tosses Angle into the ring and covers for 2. Side back breaker by AJ gets a cover for 2. Angle comes back, and gets an overhead toss on AJ. He does it again and then covers for 2. Angle works the side headlock on the mat. He then slams AJ's head to the mat, mounts him and delivers rights to the head of AJ. Back to the chinlock goes Angle, AJ is bleeding from the nose, fights to his feet and elbows out. Off the ropes, but Angle gets a release belly to belly on AJ. Suplex by Angle and a cover for 2. Repeated covers by Angle, but AJ is still too strong.

We're about 10-minutes in now and Angle works the chinlock with the knee in the back of AJ. AJ is to his feet, escapes and as he shoots off the ropes Angle catches him with a running knee to the gut. Side back breaker by Angle and a cover for 2. To the corner, rights and uppercuts by Angle rock AJ. More rights by Angle as AJ is down, sets him on the second rope now and unloads with more rights. Angle up top with AJ, AJ fights back but Angle all the way up and AJ COUNTERS IT INTO A GOURD BUSTER! Jesus. AJ is to his feet first, rights to Angle, Angle fires back and they do the BOO/YAY deal with the crowd, uppercuts by Angle but he eats a spinkick by AJ. Irish whip, boot by AJ and AJ gets a pump handle gut buster for 2! Suplex try by AJ into the neck breaker for a cover of 2. Angle with a knee to he gut, GERMAN on AJ! Angle rolls and gets the 2nd, AJ blocks the 3rd and TURNS ANGLE INSIDE OUT with a release German! Angle ducks a right and then turns AJ inside out with a release German! Angle picks AJ up but AJ is able to get a leaping Enziguri! AJ charges at Angle, but Angle catches him and gets a release belly to belly into the corner! Angle drags AJ back to the center of the ring and covers for 2. Angle stalks AJ, Angle slam countered into a DDT and covers for 2. Angle was grabbing at his neck again. Elbows by AJ to the back of the head, clash try, Angle counters and gets the ankle lock! AJ rolls and sends Angle to the corner for the escape. A whip, counter and AJ gets the Asai DDT for a CLOSE 2! AJ up top… Angle pops up and runs up top to get the SUPER ANGLE SLAM! 1…2…NO! STRAPS DOWN! Ankle lock applied! But AJ rolls it into a small package for 2! PELE by AJ! 1…2…NO! Angle had the ropes. Styles Clash try again for AJ, but Angle into the ankle lock to counter! AJ works for the ropes, but gets pulled back center. AJ rolls, kicks at Angle and send shim into the ref for the REF BUMP! AJ sends Angle to the floor, and here comes Karen Angle with a steel chair. Angle rolls back in, and she yells for Kurt. She fakes giving him the chair, and AJ rolls up Angle INTO THE STYLES CLASH! 1…2…3!

Winner: AJ Styles @ 22:45 via pin

Rating: ***½

The 411: I will admit that the match was hard to enjoy due to Angle noticeably hurting. I was more afraid for him that about the match quality. Either the man was selling very well, he was hurting badly or it is a bit of both. That aside, the major gripe I have is that they said this was about hurting the other guy and called it a grudge match, yet they started with lock ups and mat work. Come on now. This was a good match though, as it was about showcasing two wrestlers having a wrestling match and I have no issue with that concept. They worked hard, they eventually got the crowd but I felt lie it was headed towards a higher gear, but never quite got there. That could have been due to Angle's health, which if that is the case, I have no problem staying in a lower gear to protect him. But if that is the case, I again say that maybe some time on the shelf would have been for the best. I have seen much lower ratings for the match and much higher, I fall in the middle.

Final Score:  7.0   [ Good ]