Title change at WWE SmackDown tapings in Manchester
AJ Styles is once again the WWE Champion.
Styles defeated Jinder Mahal to win the title at tonight’s SmackDown television tapings in Manchester, England. There was a near fall where Styles got his foot on the ropes after Mahal hit the Khallas at one point, with Styles then winning the title cleanly with the Phenomenal Forearm.
That would appear to have major ramifications for the Survivor Series pay-per-view card. Mahal was scheduled to face Universal Champion Brock Lesnar in a non-title champion vs. champion match at the show, but it was announced that Styles would be facing Lesnar at Survivor Series instead.
Styles and Mahal have also main evented the SmackDown brand house shows in non-title matches on their European tour up until now, with Styles winning all of those.
SmackDown’s go-home show for Survivor Series will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina next week after WWE returns from the European tour.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.