AJ Styles had an amazing 2018. For most of the year, he held the WWE Championship. While he lost the title recently, that does not change that fact that during this time he took on all comers.
When it comes to Styles' year though, there is something that he will definitely not be looking back too fondly on. On several occasions this year, Styles found his groin compromised when he was hit by low blows by Superstars.
Notice the plural - 'Superstars'.
Yes, multiple wrestlers assaulted Styles' nether regions during this year.
Former WWE writer buries Judgment Day HERE
This, however, seems to be quite the trend in the career of the former WWE Champion. Throughout his time involved in professional wrestling, he has found himself on the wrong end of a low blow, which has, quite literally, taken his breath away.
Inside and outside of WWE, Styles' crotch has been attacked by the who's who of professional wrestling.
In this article, we are going to take a look at 5 different superstars, who hit AJ Styles with a low blow.
#5. Dean Ambrose:
Although this might not be too clear in people's minds at the moment, but Dean Ambrose was initially on SmackDown Live, and during a part of this time, AJ Style was a heel. Baron Corbin also had hair. It was a different time.
The two were engaged in a feud for the WWE Championship, and during this feud, AJ Styles had made it a habit of attacking Ambrose with low blows.
On one occasion when he tried to hit Ambrose with a cheap shot after Ambrose's match with Corbin, Styles had the tables turned on him. Ambrose caught him up on the top rope, and while Styles tried to get down, he shook the rope much to Styles' consternation.
#4. Awesome Kong and Road Dogg:
Whatever you do, you should never get on the bad side of Awesome Kong.
This is a lesson that AJ Styles had to learn the hard way.
Earlier on in his career, while he was still in TNA, Styles had the misfortune of learning this lesson.
At TNA Sacrifice, AJ Styles and Super Eric teamed up to take on none other than Awesome Kong (Kharma in WWE) and BG James (Road Dogg). During the match, at one point, to grab the advantage, Awesome Kong took a handful of Styles' nether regions in the Clutch.
This was bad enough for AJ, but this was then followed up by Road Dogg focusing all of his attacks on AJ's groin. He hit him with several Atomic Drops by the end of which Styles was left incapacitated. Thankfully they won the match despite that, although Styles might have preferred a different road to victory.
#3. Shinsuke Nakamura:
Shinsuke Nakamura is all about low blows at this point.
He made it a crux of his feud with AJ Styles, having turned after their match at WrestleMania by hitting Styles with the low blow.
However, this was not the only time that Styles' nether regions faced the wrath of Shunsuke Nakamura. This was a trend that continued throughout the duration of their feud. Again and again, Nakamura attacked Styles and took him out with low blows.
At one point, the audience began to even question why Styles did not wear a cup when he knew that Nakamura might hit him with a low blow at any point whatsoever.
While the audience grew tired of this, Nakamura and Styles actually had a good feud hidden behind the shenanigans. However, at this point, it is safe to say that if AJ Styles' groin could talk it would be questioning the Phenomenal One at every point for the situation AJ seems to get himself into.
#2. Ric Flair:
Could this have even been a list if Styles had not been hit by the Dirtiest Player in the game?
During his run in TNA, AJ Styles found himself a victim to the master of low blows, one who has specialised in the move, making it an art form by using it at different parts of his career.
Styles was in a brawl with Bubba Ray Dudley, better known as Bully Ray Dudley during his run in TNA. He seemingly had matters handled, and it looked like he was moments away from hitting Bully Ray with a steel chair.
This is when Ric Flair decided to get involved, coming in from behind him, and hitting him with a low blow. Bully Ray then took matters to the next level by hitting him with a Sit-Out Powerbomb off the ramp where they had been competing and through a table.
#1. Daniel Bryan:
Daniel Bryan has found himself on the wrong end of history quite a few times.
Be it in a storyline, where he lost again and again over the years despite being the more popular WWE stars or be it in reality, where Daniel Bryan found himself having to retire.
So, when Bryan got another chance for the WWE Championship, it was not an opportunity that he wanted to let go that easily. He found that he might not be winning the match against AJ Styles, and instead found himself possibly on the wrong side of history once again.
So, Bryan decided to take matters into his own hands, or in this case, leg. He hit Styles with a running low blow when the referee was distracted. He followed it up with a running knee, which left Styles knocked out.
Daniel Bryan went on to then pin Styles and win the WWE Championship.
Given that Bryan took away his WWE Championship, it is safe to say that this was the time that AJ Styles lost the most of all the times that he was hit with a low blow.
AJ Styles will be hoping that his nether regions have seen their limit of abuse. Do you know any other moments when AJ Styles was hit with a low blow? Sound off in the comments below.