Despite the X-Division being arguably the most unique selling point of TNA outside of the six-sided ring, the stars of the X-Division were only ever trusted with the main event of a TNA pay-per-view once during its peak in the 2000s. However, if there was ever a match that needed to be the main event of a pay-per-view, it’s this one.

We’ve already touched on Samoa Joe being the best version of himself in this match, but Christopher Daniels definitely deserves his flowers. At his best, he was a Rolls Royce of a wrestler who could genuinely get a good match out of most people, and when he shared the ring with guys he knew well, those good matches became great, and those great matches became classics. He walked into this bout as the heel champion who was slimy enough to work the match in his favor at all times, constantly trying to keep the match as a one-on-one contest, mainly with Styles, to nullify the threat of a second challenger throughout.

Then there’s AJ Styles. Personally, “The Phenomenal One” didn’t reach his final form until he got to New Japan Pro Wrestling several years later, but matches like this earned him the “Phenomenal” nickname because that’s what he is. He’s a human highlight reel of a babyface, pulling off moves that still amaze anyone who watches this match today, like that Shooting Star Press to the outside is as good now as it was in 2005. While Daniels plots and schemes his way through the match, Styles just throws caution to the wind and dives into every move with 100% dedication, like the guy is breaking up submission attempts with Spiral Taps for the sheer love of the game.

Thankfully, the match doesn’t fall into the classic trap that many multi-person bouts do, that being that it’s just a short series of singles matches as someone waits on the outside for their spot before they jump in and break up a pinfall attempt. Yes, Daniels does try and limit the numbers disadvantage he has, but this makes leans in and takes advantage of the fact that there’s an extra man in the match, and it leads to some truly innovative spots.

That’s probably the best way to describe this match, innovative. For some people, the closing stretch doesn’t exactly hit home the way it was supposed to (we’ll get on to that in a second), and even I think the Styles/Joe match from Turning Point in December 2005 is a more complete match. However, every three-way/Triple Threat match you have seen since September 2005 is in debt to this match. Every company has tried to do its own version but never quite lived up to it, with the closest being a rematch between these four men for the TNA World Championship four years later.

One of the most entertaining matches of all time, and infinitely rewatchable.