 The tournament final between A.J. Styles and Samoa Joe took place on August 14 at Sacrifice . As Styles laid against the ring ropes at the beginning of the match , Joe ran across the ring and kicked him in the face , causing him to fly out of the ring and crash down on the floor . Joe followed by diving through the ring ropes and smashing Styles in the face with his forearm as Styles reached his feet . Joe later held Styles in an STF submission hold , which he was forced to release when Styles touched the bottom rope . Styles then gained the advantage with a dropkick and front @-@ flip splash from the ring ropes . He held Joe on his shoulders before twisting him off into a powerbomb , or what he calls a Rack Bomb . During the move , referee Andrew Thomas was kicked in the face and knocked unconscious , allowing Daniels to interfere in the contest . Daniels attacked Styles and attempted to hit Joe with the X Division Title belt before Styles threw Daniels from the ring . Joe followed by lifting Styles up and performing his Muscle Buster maneuver , then placing Styles in his Coquina Clutch submission hold . Styles submitted to the move as the referee came to , giving the victory to Joe . The final bout lasted 15 minutes and 15 seconds . 
