A.J. Styles

name=A.J. Styles

Career

Georgia

Allen Jones was trained by Rick Michaels and debuted in March 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 the 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.

Related Topics:
Rick Michaels - March - 1999 - Georgia - Promotion - December - Merged - NWA Wildside

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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. His final reign ended on February 21 when he lost to Robbie Rage in Athens, Georgia.

Related Topics:
January 11 - 2000 - K-Krush - Cornelia, Georgia - April 1 - January 6 - 2001 - Air Paris - February 21 - Athens, Georgia

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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 (renamed Air 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.

Related Topics:
World Championship Wrestling - Feud - Tag team - Gimmick - G-suit

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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.

Related Topics:
WCW Thunder - March 5 - WCW Monday Nitro - WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship - Elix Skipper - Kid Romeo

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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, but declined to accept it, reasoning that he could earn more money on the independent circuit.

Related Topics:
World Wrestling Federation - March 2001 - WWF Jakked - April 2002 - Independent circuit

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World Wrestling Allstars

Styles toured Australia with the short-lived World Wrestling Allstars 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.

Related Topics:
Australia - World Wrestling Allstars - Pay-per-view - April 13 - Melbourne - Nova - Jerry Lynn

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Ring of Honor

Styles joined Ring of Honor in 2002, immediately facing then-champion Low-Ki in two successive bouts for the ROH Heavyweight Championship.

Related Topics:
Ring of Honor - Low-Ki - ROH Heavyweight Championship

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Styles 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.

Related Topics:
ROH Pure Wrestling Champion - 2004 - CM Punk - Christopher Daniels

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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 West 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. 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 Styles Clash from the second turnbuckle through a table.

Related Topics:
2005 - Jimmy Rave - West Ghanian - Prince Nana - Styles Clash - Air freshener - Rolling him up - Suffocate - September 17 - Mick Foley

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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

Related Topics:
Japanese - CIMA - Dragon Gate - Buffalo, New York

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