"The Phenomenal" A.J. Styles ,part 3

Styles returned to the X Division in 2005, and at Final Resolution on January 16, he won the X Division Championship for a fourth time in an Ultimate X match, defeating Chris Sabin and the reigning champion, Petey Williams. On the January 21 episode of iMPACT!, Christopher Daniels accused Styles of "ducking him" (Styles and Daniels had never fought one another in a singles match in TNA). After Daniels challenged Styles to a match at the next monthly TNA pay-per-view, TNA Director of Authority Dusty Rhodes announced that Styles and Daniels would fight that day, with Daniels receiving a title shot if Styles could not defeat him within ten minutes. Daniels lasted ten minutes, and subsequently faced Styles in a thirty-minute iron man match for the X Division Championship at Against All Odds in which ended in a draw with both men having scored a single pinfall. Dusty Rhodes restarted the match, albeit with "sudden death" rules, and Styles defeated Daniels to retain his title.

The feud between Styles and Daniels continued, and at Destination X on March 13, Styles lost his title in an Ultimate X Challenge against Daniels, Ron Killings and Elix Skipper. Skipper eliminated Killings and Daniels eliminated Skipper, thus reducing the match to a singles contest. With the referee unconscious, Styles was able to retrieve the belt, but Daniels knocked him out with the Angel's Wings and then embraced the title belt. When the referee recovered shortly thereafter, he saw both men prone but Daniels with the title belt, and awarded the match and the X Division Championship to Daniels.

Having lost the X Division Championship, Styles began feuding with Abyss. At Lockdown, he defeated Abyss in a steel cage match to become the number one contender to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Styles went on to defeat the defending champion, Jeff Jarrett, at Hard Justice on May 15. After Jarrett pushed the special guest referee, cage fighter, Tito Ortiz, Ortiz knocked him down with a punch, enabling Styles to hit his Spiral Tap maneuver and pin Jarrett for his third NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Styles lost the title at Slammiversary to Raven in a King of the Mountain match against Sean Waltman, Raven, Monty Brown and Abyss.

On the July 1 episode of iMPACT!, Styles was involved in a confrontation with Sean Waltman. They faced one another at No Surrender in a match which was refereed by Jerry Lynn, who had teamed with and fought against both men in the past. The match was won by Styles after Lynn prevented Waltman from cheating. Styles then returned to his perennial pursuit of the X Division Championship, entering the TNA 2005 Super X Cup Tournament, which granted the winner a shot at the X Division Championship. Styles defeated Matt Bentley in the quarter-finals and Petey Williams in the semi-finals, but lost to Samoa Joe at Sacrifice. However, as Christopher Daniels (the reigning X Division champion) had interfered in the match, TNA Director of Authority Larry Zbyszko added Styles to the resultant title bout. On September 11 at Unbreakable, Styles defeated Samoa Joe and Daniels in a three-way match to become the TNA X Division Champion for a fifth time. This match was the last match of the night and is considered by many one of the greatest matches in TNA history. In addition to being rated a 5 Star Match by Dave Meltzer, this match also finished as the first runner up for Pro Wrestling Illustrated Match Of The Year honors making it the highest finish ever for a TNA match in that category.

On the inaugural episode of iMPACT! on October 1, Styles, in his match against Roderick Strong, would perform his signature no-hands somersault plancha over the top rope onto Strong on the outside of the ring. While executing the move, Styles' feet went over the guard rail surrounding the ring, and the heel of one of his boots struck an audience member, Ryan Jevec, in the face. Jevec received minor medical treatment for a black eye backstage, but was back in the audience within minutes.

On the November 19 episode of iMPACT!, Styles challenged Samoa Joe to a match at Turning Point, claiming that Joe had broken the X Division "code of respect" by assaulting his partner, Christopher Daniels, following their match at Genesis. Joe defeated Styles at Turning Point, thus becoming the new X Division Champion.

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