AJ Styles and Bobby Lashley are ready to square off, though Wade Barrett points out that Lashley has a big bump on his head from his first round match … when we saw him bleeding a bit at the end.
Styles doesn’t back down from the bigger man though that doesn’t work out well for him early on. He is able to turn things around along the ropes, but he’s quickly picked up and thrown over said ropes to the floor.
Lashley drives Styles into the apron, then the post, punishing his back and side. After commercials, Styles’ work on Lashley’s left leg pays off when he’s able to apply the Calf Crusher, though Bobby is able to slam his head into the mat to escape.
Styles keeps up the pressure using calf kicks and a low DDT to score a near fall. He looks like he has a bit of blood from Lashley’s cut on his face now too.
Styles can’t lift Lashley but the same can’t be said in reverse, with Lashley hitting a Flatliner to secure a near fall. He goes for a gutwrench but sees Styles slip away, and now Lashley is definitely bleeding again.
The Hurt Lock has Styles in trouble, but AJ slips through the top two ropes to force a break. They head to the floor to continue the fight, with Styles getting bounced off the steel steps before reversing the ringpost spot. He rolls Lashley back in the ring and looks for the Phenomenal Forearm but gets caught in midair.
Styles tries for the Calf Crusher again, setting off a chain of counters until Lashley can pull off a running powerslam that nearly but doesn’t quite win it. Lashley wants a corner charge but slams into the post when his foe moves aside.
Here comes the Phenomenal Forearm, and it’s enough to win it and send Styles to the tournament final to face Seth Rollins.
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