AJ Styles returned on last week’s episode of “WWE SmackDown” to face Carmelo Hayes. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury that’s derailed the momentum he had. While some fans and reports claimed the health setback was a work, it was ultimately confirmed that Styles is hurt.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the referee stopped the match and that this angered the star. Interestingly, the report further noted that Styles was meant to begin a storyline about farewell tour and teasing his retirement. Despite his injury, the report also claimed that Styles’ retirement storyline is still planned to occur pending the results of an MRI he underwent to assess the severity of the injury.

WWE’s current deal with TNA Wrestling could also factor into Styles’ retirement tour, since he’ll be able to appear in the promotion that put him on everyone’s radar. Earlier this year, Styles commented on WWE and TNA’s partnership, noting that he had hopes that he’ll still have a final match in his old stomping grounds. The veteran also commented on the stars crossing between the two promotions, and expressed how he believes it has enriched the companies and the talent involved. 

Hopefully for Styles, he will heal up while the promotions still have their crossover deal, as a TNA appearance would be the cherry on top of his rumored retirement tour. However, for now, it remains to be seen what’s in store for “The Phenomenal One,” as he is currently focused on recovering from the setback.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SmackDown will air live tonight on the USA Network from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

• The return of AJ Styles
• WWE Tag Team Championship Triple Threat Ladder Match: The Bloodline (C) vs. DIY vs. The Street Profits
• Dumpster Match: Michin vs. Chelsea Green
• Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton

The go-home episode of “WWE SmackDown” before Bad Blood is starting to resemble a can’t-miss event. In addition to a WWE Tag Team Championship match, a Dumpster Match, and other contests, fans can expect to see the return of AJ Styles on the upcoming October 4 installment of “SmackDown.” The announcement was made Friday night via a “SmackDown” video package that saw Styles, donned in his signature black attire and hood, walking through guerilla. The package then cut to various compilations of Styles’ best in-ring moments alongside Styles saying his signature catchphrase, “this is still the house that AJ Styles built.”

As of writing, there is currently no further information as to Styles’ post-return plans. Styles’ last televised WWE match saw him shout “I quit” to Cody Rhodes at Clash at the Castle 2024, losing his chance at the Undisputed WWE Championship in the process. Any potential Bad Blood plans for Styles, who hails from the state of Georgia, are also unknown, as the Atlanta-based event is slated for the night after his return to WWE programming.

Styles has been absent from the blue brand for more than three months since his loss in Scotland, though he did perform on WWE’s Japanese and German international house show tours. Styles has had a bit more luck outside of WWE as of late, as his last televised match, across any show, saw him pick up the win against Naomichi Marufuji at Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Destination 2024 PPV in July. Styles hasn’t wrestled at all since August 29.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown live on the USA Network from the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

• No. 1 Contender’s Match to the WWE Women’s Championship: Bayley vs. Naomi
• Carmelo Hayes vs. Andrade Part VI (Andrade leads the series 3-2)
• Solo Sikoa returns
• Michin vs. Piper Niven

WWE SmackDown will air live tonight on the USA Network from the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.

• Cody Rhodes and Romans Reigns will seek common ground
• WWE United States Championship: LA Knight (c) vs. Andrade
• Bayley & Naomi vs. Nia Jax & Tiffany Stratton (If Bayley or Naomi score the winning fall, they earn a title shot. If they lose, they have to leave SmackDown)
• Giovanni Vinci vs. Apollo Crews

WWE Friday Night SmackDown will undergo more changes after moving from FOX to the USA Network.

The SmackDown premiere episode last Friday showcased a new visual design with updated colors, graphics, logo, and theme.

The show no longer has to end two minutes before the top of the hour to make way for local news on FOX, allowing for greater flexibility.

As we’ve been reporting here on WNB, Monday Night RAW will revert back to its previous two-hour format, which it hasn’t had since 2012, starting on October 7. As WWE is transitioning from the USA Network to Netflix, a temporary gap exists before the Netflix deal takes effect in January.

WWE reached an agreement with the USA Network to extend RAW’s run on the channel after the original deal was set to expire this month. The USA Network made the decision to switch RAW to a two-hour format.

Once WWE RAW moves to Netflix, it will become a three-hour show again, with the option to change the duration every week.

According to a report from WrestleVotes Radio, WWE SmackDown is expected to follow in RAW’s footsteps and transition to a three-hour format in January 2025.

The report states, “Before we move off of SmackDown, our first real WrestleVotes tidbit here, as we get going on this backstage pass regarding SmackDown, is that we have learned that starting on the January 3 show 2025, Smackdown will indeed shift to three hours. The other big news here is there are rumors that once the show ends, it will be available on Netflix, which we haven’t heard elsewhere. Those are the internal talkings right now is that probably the day after Smackdown will be available on Netflix. But the real nugget here is that starting January 3, that show will be three hours.”

Source: eWn

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown is the premiere episode live on the USA Network, from the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.

• Undisputed WWE Championship Steel Cage Match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Solo Sikoa
• Kevin Owens & a mystery partner vs. A-Town Down Under (Grayson Waller and Austin Theory)
• Andrade vs. Carmelo Hayes Part V – Series Tied 2-2

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown will be the final live broadcast on FOX. The show returns to the USA Network beginning next Friday. SmackDown will take place from Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Fallout from Bash in Berlin

• The return of Giovani Vinci
• Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes will respond to Solo Sikoa
• The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa) vs. The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) and DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa)
• Tiffany Stratton vs. Bayley

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown will go head-to-head with a special Friday night (live) episode of AEW Collision on TNT.