AJ Styles made his in-ring return to WWE SmackDown this week, but it was far from a night for celebration for The Phenomenal One.
After a promo that was interrupted by Carmelo Hayes, which led into an impromptu match, Styles would go down mid-match with an injury. Commentators Michael Cole and Corey Graves revealed that referee Charles Robinson and trainers were suspecting a possible sprained ankle.
Styles continued to try to work the match despite this setback, only for Robinson to call for the bell and end it, throwing up the dreaded “X” and calling for more medical staff to come down to help the former world champion to the back.
AJ STYLES WAS INJURED DURING THE MATCH AND THEY HAD TO END THE MATCH
💔💔💔💔💔#Smackdown pic.twitter.com/L8EDnnMdFn
— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) October 5, 2024
To put a more positive button on the segment, LA Knight attacked Carmelo Hayes after the match, having stated earlier that he would talk to SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis about giving Hayes a shot at the United States Championship. If and when that future title match will take place has yet to be revealed, as is whether or not this injury to AJ Styles is part of a storyline or legitimate.
The match is called off after an injury to AJ Styles.
LA Knight then lays out Carmelo Hayes.#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/dso6XLXSfg
— ⭕ SlamX ⭕ (@SubToSlamX) October 5, 2024
Stay tuned to eWrestlingNews.com for more updates on this situation to come.