AJ Styles Dealing with Legitimate Injury On WWE SmackDown Revealed - Update from Earlier this week

The October 4 episode of WWE SmackDown saw AJ Styles return to the ring and suffer an injury during his match.

Styles faced Carmelo Hayes only for the match to end with a referee stoppage thanks to what seemed to be an ankle injury, as can be seen in the video below this news story.

After the match was brought to an end, LA Knight interjected himself into proceedings and attacked Hayes.

It was later reported that the injury that led to the stoppage (noted as a “sprained ankle” by commentary) was a storyline one, although that he had legitimately picked up an injury.

Dave Meltzer has now provided clarification on the injury status of AJ Styles in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, writing:

“While he started selling when landing on his feet after a quebrada, and was selling an injury, the leg went out when he was doing an ushigoroshi and the referee stopped the match.

“He was pretty mad about the whole thing. Styles was to start a storyline where this would be his farewell tour or doing a retirement tease and that’s still the idea pending MRI results showing the severity of the injury.”

Before his recent return, Styles was last in action at WWE Clash at the Castle in June where he faced Cody Rhodes in an “I Quit” match.

As reported ahead of his WWE SmackDown return, he has been on the house show circuit and appeared on the European tour leading to Bash in Berlin.

It has also recently been revealed that AJ Styles current WWE contract is due to expire either later this year or early in 2025.

Respect The Combat wishes AJ Styles well in his recovery from injury.