4. AJ Styles vs. Roman Reigns (Extreme Rules, 2016)
At Extreme Rules 2016, “The Phenomenal One” challenged WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns in an Extreme Rules match. With an “anything goes” stipulation (meaning no disqualifications or count-outs), the use of weapons was fully encouraged. The two fought throughout the arena in an electric atmosphere of pure chaos, featuring outside interference from The Usos for Reigns and The Club for Styles.
The clash featured a brutal table spot where Reigns back-dropped Styles from one announce table through another, nearly breaking him in half. However, the most legendary moment came toward the end: as Styles launched for the Phenomenal Forearm, Reigns intercepted him with a mid-air Spear to secure the pinfall. It was perfectly timed and remains one of the most incredible finishes in WWE history.
Taking place only four months after his main roster debut, the match proved that Styles belonged in the main event scene and silenced critics who claimed his “indie style” wouldn’t mesh well with WWE powerhouses. This match is widely credited as the night the WWE realized AJ Styles wasn’t just a great “indie guy,” but a legitimate main-event titan capable of carrying the company.
