Conflicting reports come to light about AJ Styles’ injury status on WWE SmackDown
Fans finally get more information on AJ Styles' leg injury which cost him his match against Carmelo Hayes on the latest episode of SmackDown.
Follow Us
Contradicting reports surface of AJ Styles' injury (via WWE)
AJ Styles had been absent from WWE programming since his ‘I Quit’ match at Clash at the Castle against Cody Rhodes for the WWE Undisputed Championship. Although he has still been a mainstay on the house show circuit since then, the 47-year-old only appeared on TV last week after his Scotland match. At the show, he went one-on-one against Carmelo Hayes. However, the match had to be stopped after the former WWE Champion suffered an injury.
According to WON Daily Updates, Styles is legitimately injured after his match against Carmelo Hayes, and it is not a work/storyline by WWE. The Phenomenal One is even getting an MRI to check for the severity of his injury. This report contradicts that of many popular dirtsheets like Fightful, who claimed that the injury was planned all along.
During his match on Friday, Styles seemingly hurt his knee after a botched landing following a springboard attack. He started clutching his knee, and the referee called off the match and declared Hayes as the winner. The former NXT Champion also took to X to call his opponent a quitter.
Most fans still believe that the injury was a work. Firstly, the referee generally throws up an X sign with his hands if a legitimate injury has occurred in the ring. This was simply not the case on SmackDown. Secondly, WWE often does not film their superstars backstage if an actual injury has occurred. However, there was footage of Styles walking backstage on crutches. The promotion only does so in cases when they really want to sell the effect of an injury that is work.
AJ Styles breaks silence after seemingly suffering an injury on the latest episode of SmackDown
The day after the latest episode of SmackDown, backstage WWE interviewer Jackie Redmond confirmed with a post on X that AJ Styles suffered a mid-foot sprain ligament, also known as Lisfranc injury. She also relayed the news of The Face that Runs the Place getting an MRI.
Styles re-posted the tweet on his X account, informing his fans that he would keep them updated on the situation. It is worth noting that both these tweets may not be fully true if the situation is truly a work by WWE.
Styles is 47 years old now and has been wrestling for more than two and a half decades. Furthermore, his high-flying moveset also places a lot of strain on his body. If the injury is legitimate, it may be a sign of his body finally giving out after so much wear and tear, and the Phenomenal One could even be considering retirement.
Stay Updated!
Mokshit Batra
(1339 Articles Published)