AJ Styles will leave San Antonio, TX as the WWE Champion, but his so-called “victory” has certainly ended in controversy.

In the final seconds of a long, grueling battle between two career-long rivals, Samoa Joe locked in his signature rear naked choke submission, but the “Phenomenal One” expertly rolled through the hold to pin his opponent and retain the title. However, an instant replay showed that the champion actually tapped out right between the referee’s hand hit the mat for the third count.

A pissed off Samoan stormed the ring immediately after the bout and nearly attacked the official after being screwed out of the WWE Championship, but Styles found enough strength to dispatch of Joe one last time, standing tall at WWE Hell in a Cell.

Click here for complete WWE Hell in a Cell results. 

The replay shows AJ Styles clearly tapped out, but the referee didn't see it before counting the three. #AndStill #HIAC pic.twitter.com/kmnTdgRGYp

— ProWrestling.com (@pw_dotcom) September 17, 2018

.@SamoaJoe is IRATE after his #CoquinaClutch backfired!@AJStylesOrg is STILL your @WWE Champion! #HIAC pic.twitter.com/0IeJ59IOhm

— WWE (@WWE) September 17, 2018

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NIGHT-NIGHT, @SamoaJoe!#HIAC #WWETitle @AJStylesOrg pic.twitter.com/tw2nRL3J5N

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) September 17, 2018