In many senses the biggest match of AJ Styles' career: working his second main event for the World Title in the number one program in the WWE. The match-up set the stage for a big match feel and an electric atmosphere: Roman Reigns, the hand picked champion hated by the hardcore fans; and AJ Styles, the under-pushed all-time great finally getting his just dues in the WWE. Their main event program, also built around interaction with AJ's former Bullet Club stable-mates Anderson and Gallows and Roman's cousins the Usos, was a great program whose segments were always the hottest of the night and actually made for great angle-driven TV. It all came to a head in this Extreme Rules match.
The stylistic basis of this match was AJ as the quick, technically proficient wrestler's wrestler and Roman as the big powerhouse, but the work was helped by the fact that AJ's offense also always looks strong and tight and Roman also has great athletic ability. The opening portion was worked around Styles getting the best of Roman with his technique but Roman often getting an advantage with his raw power. Every strike and move from both guys looked great and the work was very compelling. This quickly degenerated into a brawl with Roman and AJ fighting through and crowd -- and actually actively, engagingly brawling -- eventually heading over to the pre-show area where Roman tossed AJ onto the glass table followed by AJ coming off and hitting his phenomenal forearm.
Back in the ringside area the match really kicks into next gear. AJ Styles takes a massive back drop through the announce table. They start trading moves and this part of the match is a beauty; Roman hits an outrageous looking sit-down Razor's Edge, AJ counters a super man punch in mid air by flipping Roman over at the hip, AJ hits a gorgeous and vicious looking knee strike, Roman slams AJ against the ringside and guard rail and dumps him onto another announce table with a powerbomb in a nasty looking bump, and shortly later counters a Phenomenal Forearm with a superman punch with AJ standing on the ropes. This is a fantastic mix of workrate, great looking big moves and spots.
The Club, Anderson and Gallows, now run out to take out Roman, followed by the Usos out to take out Styles. The finishing stretch is super hot with each faction fighting each other and AJ picking up some major nearfalls with the Styles Clash. Roman takes out the Club but AJ grabs and chair and goes to town on Roman and both the Usos at once with the crowd going nuts. AJ takes off the elbow pad and gets ready for the Phenomenal Forearm but Roman puts it away with a great looking spear in mid-air.
Roman Reigns and AJ Styles was an imporabable program and they ended up having chemistry almost beyond belief. Their styles meshed perfectly and both their skill sets brought out the best in the other. AJ got a chance to shine on the biggest stage and showed beyond any doubt that he can get over a captivate a WWE crowd. Since this match AJ has cemented himself as one of the top stars in the company; this is his WWE classic so far, with surely many more to come.