BREAKING: Shock Title Change And Heel Turn On WWE SmackDown
We didn't see this one coming...
Tonight's SmackDown had a truly shocking conclusion, a major title change, and a probable heel turn ahead of Sunday's Survivor Series. In the main event of the evening, AJ Styles defended the WWE Championship against Daniel Bryan - only to lose in a surprise turn of events.
Styles and Bryan clashed in the opening segment of the show, leading SmackDown commissioner Shane McMahon to book a title match for the main event. In that match, Bryan hit a low blow with the referee's back turned, followed by a running knee to pin AJ and win his fourth WWE Championship.
This capped off a very eventful night ahead of Sunday's pay per view. Becky Lynch was injured by Nia Jax during the brawl to close Monday Night Raw, and nominated Charlotte Flair to take her place against Ronda Rousey. This means that SmackDown's women's team will have a vacant spot heading into Sunday.
Prior to his title win, Bryan was removed from the men's 5-on-5 Survivor Series tag bout on Sunday, and was replaced by Jeff Hardy. Team captain The Miz tried to replace Rey Mysterio too, but failed to defeat him in a match to make the switch official. SmackDown's men's Survivor Series team now features a final line-up of Miz, Shane McMahon, Mysterio, Samoa Joe, and Jeff Hardy.
As WWE Champion, Bryan will now face Universal Champion Brock Lesnar, while Styles' role on the show is unknown. The card currently reads:
Brock Lesnar vs. Daniel Bryan
Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair
Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Team Raw (Braun Strowman, Drew McIntyre, Dolph Ziggler, Finn Balor, and Bobby Lashley) vs. Team SmackDown (The Miz, Shane McMahon, Rey Mysterio, Samoa Joe, and Jeff Hardy)
Team Raw (Nia Jax, Tamina, Mickie James, Natalya, and Ruby Riott) vs. Team SmackDown (Carmella, Naomi, Sonya Deville, Asuka, and ???)
AOP vs. The Bar
Cruiserweight Championship: Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Mustafa Ali
The pre-show will see at least one match featuring tag teams from both brands in traditional Survivor Series action.
Styles and Bryan clashed in the opening segment of the show, leading SmackDown commissioner Shane McMahon to book a title match for the main event. In that match, Bryan hit a low blow with the referee's back turned, followed by a running knee to pin AJ and win his fourth WWE Championship.
This capped off a very eventful night ahead of Sunday's pay per view. Becky Lynch was injured by Nia Jax during the brawl to close Monday Night Raw, and nominated Charlotte Flair to take her place against Ronda Rousey. This means that SmackDown's women's team will have a vacant spot heading into Sunday.
Prior to his title win, Bryan was removed from the men's 5-on-5 Survivor Series tag bout on Sunday, and was replaced by Jeff Hardy. Team captain The Miz tried to replace Rey Mysterio too, but failed to defeat him in a match to make the switch official. SmackDown's men's Survivor Series team now features a final line-up of Miz, Shane McMahon, Mysterio, Samoa Joe, and Jeff Hardy.
As WWE Champion, Bryan will now face Universal Champion Brock Lesnar, while Styles' role on the show is unknown. The card currently reads:
Brock Lesnar vs. Daniel Bryan
Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair
Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Team Raw (Braun Strowman, Drew McIntyre, Dolph Ziggler, Finn Balor, and Bobby Lashley) vs. Team SmackDown (The Miz, Shane McMahon, Rey Mysterio, Samoa Joe, and Jeff Hardy)
Team Raw (Nia Jax, Tamina, Mickie James, Natalya, and Ruby Riott) vs. Team SmackDown (Carmella, Naomi, Sonya Deville, Asuka, and ???)
AOP vs. The Bar
Cruiserweight Championship: Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Mustafa Ali
The pre-show will see at least one match featuring tag teams from both brands in traditional Survivor Series action.
Written by Jack King
jack.king@cultaholic.com Twitter: @JackTheJobber
