Background: For the fourth time in TNA history, the Ultimate X (a high wire affair where the winner has to climb a steel truss and retrieve the title belt hanging above the ring by crossing wires) was unleashed to determine who would rule the X-Division. Petey Williams, though had held the title longer than anyone up to that point, hadn’t been tested in Ultimate X like AJ Styles and Chris Sabin – Sabin being the only man who has gone three for three in this type of match.
“Final Resolution”
Orlando, FL
January 16, 2005
Petey Williams vs. AJ Styles vs. Chris Sabin
Sabin did a good job dropping his opponents in the early going, putting the champion on his figurative bicycle that saw him running scared until the challengers double teamed him. As the two challengers displayed their athletic prowess in the ring, Williams recovered outside until he yanked Sabin to the floor. Styles took advantage of the situation, diving on top of both men before making a climb for the title belt. Sabin stopped his fellow challenger with a dropkick that knocked Styles to the floor from the top rope. Sabin was the first to make it to one of the cables, but some interference from Williams’ manager Scott D’Amore stopped Petey from losing the gold. Sadly for the champ, the referee sent D’Amore out of the building.
When Petey refocused himself, he started working over Sabin’s legs. This gave AJ a chance to climb, but was yanked into a German suplex by Petey. Williams was controlling the pace of this one until he ran into AJ’s Pele kick. A struggle over who could climb up the nearby truss between AJ and Sabin ended with Williams hitting a hurricarana on Sabin as he sat on AJ’s shoulders!
The champion, though down, had the most momentum after downing both men. Eventually, AJ and Petey met at the middle of the crossing wires. Styles kicked Petey in the back, leaving him hanging by his legs. AJ was yanked off the wires by Sabin, only to spring to the top rope and catch the dangling Petey with a flying forearm that knocked him to the ring some twelve feet below!
The fans were going wild as Sabin started his climb. Styles tried to stop him, but took a hurricarana instead. As Williams and Sabin fought over hitting their finishers, Styles bounced off the top rope, hitting a reverse DDT on Petey that caused Williams to DDT Sabin! When Styles tried to make his way to the belt, Sabin springboard dropkicked him off the wires, causing AJ to do a 180-degree spin in midair before landing back first on the mat!
When Sabin and Williams got up, Petey took him over the top with a cross body block. The fans were behind AJ as he rallied to his feet to stop the climbing Williams. Williams twisted AJ’s right arm in the truss they fought on, executing an arm breaker. Before Williams could follow up, he met Sabin’s Cradle Shock. Somehow, AJ recovered in time to stop Sabin, power bombing him into the Styles Clash!
Styles was almost in tears as he worked his way across the ropes. Sadly for the former champion, Styles lost his grip and landed right into the Canadian Destroyer. Williams followed up with the tornado DDT on Sabin. Instead of going for the belt immediately, Williams set up for the Canadian Destroyer on Sabin. Sabin grabbed Williams instead of it being the other way around, hitting a turnbuckle Liger bomb!
Sabin and Williams were on the wires, fighting over the title belt. Styles suddenly sprung off the top rope, knocking the belt out of their hands. Realizing what he had done, Styles quickly clutched the belt to become the new TNA X-Division champion and to win his first Ultimate X.
Winner: AJ Styles (20:07)
Is It A Classic: It’s a human car crash, but man was it entertaining. These men certainty took years off of their careers and lives here. Easily one of the best Ultimate X matches in history, and needs to be seen.
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