As reported earlier on the site, AJ Styles was dealing with a sciatic nerve issue (back injury), and that’s the reason he did not work ROH’s last TV tapings, which was held two weeks ago.
It appears that Styles has recovered because ROH officials announced today that Styles would be working the November 14th live event. ROH issued the following:
On the classic television game show Let’s Make a Deal, it was not uncommon for contestants to walk away with a consolation prize that was higher in value than the initial prize offered. ACH and Matt Sydal have known the grand prize of their Best of Five series, a spot in the 2015 Survival of the Fittest Final, has the potential to be career-defining. But suddenly, the consolation prize has the same potential. In Hopkins, MN, either ACH or Sydal will compete in the SOTF Final. The runner-up will go one-on-on with the Phenomenal A.J. Styles in a huge one-on-one encounter!
And the opportunity may be ripe for either star to pick up a win that would make news across the globe. Styles is a star known around the world for taking on all challengers. Heading into Final Battle, the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion is nursing a back injury that kept him out of action during Glory By Honor weekend. He will put his back to the test, looking to take on any and all challengers in preparation for his huge ROH World Championship match with Jay Lethal.
The casual observer will immediately look at both hypothetical match-ups and realize that Styles will be in for a fight either way the cookie crumbles. Matt Sydal is no stranger to combat with Styles, having first met the “Phenomenal One” in an ROH ring in 2006 in Philadelphia at Hell Freezes Over. Sydal’s hard-hitting, sudden-impact kicks could aggravate an already-sensitive back that will be put to the test a week before in New Japan competition and may stiffen up in the transpacific flight home.
Meanwhile, ACH and Styles locked up for the first time in an ROH ring at The 13th Anniversary Show in Las Vegas this past March. The Styles Clash ultimately finished off ACH, but since then ACH has been one of the hottest competitors in the world, most-recently winning a huge Four Corners Survival bout in Lockport, NY against Moose, Michael Elgin, and Adam Cole and taking two matches thus far against Sydal. ACH has gained needed experience since their last encounter that makes the high-flyer from Texas even more dangerous and a true threat to cover Styles for the 1-2-3 in the center of the ring.
For both Sydal and ACH, a bout against Styles is quite a parting gift for the loser of their historic Best of Five series. A win against the ROH World Title’s number one contender Styles would immediately catapult either man further into ROH title contention.
For Sydal, a win against Styles would conclude his metamorphosis as one of the world’s best high flyers completes the cycle of being #REBORN. For ACH, a win against Styles could be the resume-defining victory needed to finally earn a shot against ROH TV champ Roderick Strong or ROH World Champion Jay Lethal.
And for Styles? The consummate professional will be looking to pick up the victory but also will be looking to gauge the health of his back before he meets Lethal in Philadelphia for the ROH World Title in December. If Styles is too cautious, it could cost him the winner’s end of the purse. If Styles is overzealous, it could cost him the World Championship.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH, 2015 – SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST ’15 – NIGHT 2
Hopkins Eisenhower Community Center – Hopkins, Minnesota
Doors open at 5:30p / 7pm Cst bell time
Tickets on Sale Now – http://www.rohwrestling.com/SOTFNT2TIX
*MAIN EVENT*
SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST ’15 FINALS
?? vs ?? vs ?? vs ?? vs ?? vs ??
Tag Team Match
reDRagon vs ROH World Champion Jay Lethal & Dono
Signed to Appear
ROH WORLD TV CHAMPION RODERICK STRONG
ROH WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS THE KINGDOM w/ MARIA KANELLIS
THE YOUNG BUCKS
THE BRISCOES
JOEY DADDIEGO
THE ADDICTION
WAR MACHINE
ALL NIGHT EXPRESS
MICHAEL ELGIN
ADAM COLE
MOOSE w/ STOKELY HATHAWAY
DALTON CASTLE
SILAS YOUNG
ADAM PAGE w/ BJ WHITMER
CEDRIC ALEXANDER
