Despite the X-Division being arguably essentially the most unique selling point of TNA outside of the six-sided ring, the celebrities of the X-Division were only ever trusted with the major event of a TNA pay-per-view once during its peak within the 2000s. Nonetheless, if there was ever a match that needed to be the major event of a pay-per-view, it’s this one.
We have already touched on Samoa Joe being the most effective version of himself on this match, but Christopher Daniels definitely deserves his flowers. At his best, he was a Rolls Royce of a wrestler who could genuinely get a superb match out of most individuals, and when he shared the ring with guys he knew well, those good matches became great, and people great matches became classics. He walked into this bout because the heel champion who was slimy enough to work the match in his favor in any respect times, continually attempting to keep the match as a one-on-one contest, mainly with Styles, to nullify the specter of a second challenger throughout.
Then there’s AJ Styles. Personally, “The Phenomenal One” didn’t reach his final form until he got to Recent Japan Pro Wrestling several years later, but matches like this earned him the “Phenomenal” nickname because that is what he’s. He’s a human highlight reel of a babyface, pulling off moves that also amaze anyone who watches this match today, like that Shooting Star Press to the skin is nearly as good now because it was in 2005. While Daniels plots and schemes his way through the match, Styles just throws caution to the wind and dives into every move with 100% dedication, just like the guy is breaking up submission attempts with Spiral Taps for the sheer love of the sport.
Thankfully, the match doesn’t fall into the classic trap that many multi-person bouts do, that being that it’s just a brief series of singles matches as someone waits on the skin for his or her spot before they jump in and break up a pinfall attempt. Yes, Daniels does try to limit the numbers drawback he has, but this makes leans in and takes advantage of the indisputable fact that there’s an additional man within the match, and it results in some truly revolutionary spots.
That is probably the most effective approach to describe this match, revolutionary. For some people, the closing stretch doesn’t exactly hit home the way in which it was purported to (we’ll get on to that in a second), and even I believe the Styles/Joe match from Turning Point in December 2005 is a more complete match. Nonetheless, every three-way/Triple Threat match you’ve seen since September 2005 is in debt to this match. Every company has tried to do its own version but never quite lived as much as it, with the closest being a rematch between these 4 men for the TNA World Championship 4 years later.
Some of the entertaining matches of all time, and infinitely rewatchable.