had a rematch for the title the following week. As a result of a backstage attack, Storm came into the match bleeding and eventually lost, after passing out due to blood loss. After the match, Roode was challenged by his former Fortune stablemate, A.J. Styles. On November 13 at Turning Point, Roode successfully defended the TNA World Heavyweight Championship against Styles, pinning him while holding his tights. On December 11 at Final Resolution, Roode retained the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, after wrestling Styles to a draw in a 30-Minute Iron Man match. Roode and Styles wrestled a sudden death overtime period on the following episode of Impact Wrestling, where Roode managed to retain his title. On January 8, 2012, at Genesis, Roode again retained the TNA World Heavyweight Championship after getting himself disqualified in his title match against Jeff Hardy. On the following episode of Impact Wrestling, a rematch between Roode and Hardy ended in a no contest, following interference from Bully Ray. The following episode of Impact Wrestling, both Roode and Ray interfered in a number one contender's match between Hardy and Storm, which ended the match in a no contest. On February 12 at Against All Odds, Roode defeated Hardy, Ray, and Storm in a four-way match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship after special ringside enforcer Sting accidentally knocked out Hardy with the title belt. The following episode of Impact Wrestling, Roode retained the championship against Hardy in a No Disqualification match, following interference from Kurt Angle. Roode then began feuding with TNA's General Manager Sting, which eventually led to Sting returning to the ring on March 18 at Victory Road, where Roode defeated him in a non-title No Holds Barred match. On April 15 at Lockdown, Roode defeated James Storm in a steel cage match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship after being accidentally superkicked out of the cage for the win. On May 13 at Sacrifice, Roode defeated Rob Van Dam in a ladder match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. On the May 24 episode of Impact Wrestling, Roode successfully defended the title against A.J. Styles to break Styles' record of 211 days as TNA World Heavyweight Champion the following day. Following the match, Roode was attacked by the returning Sting. The following week, Roode was defeated by Sting in a non-title lumberjack match in the first live episode of Impact