Matt Riddle Challenges For AJ Styles' IC Title On Next Week's WWE SmackDown
The challenger has already beaten the champ once...
In what will be a rematch from the June 19 episode of WWE SmackDown, Intercontinental champion AJ Styles defends his title against Matt Riddle on next week's edition of SmackDown.
The recent NXT call-up defeated Styles in his first match on the brand, though the bout in question was of the non-title variety.
The title defense will be Styles' second since winning the belt in a tournament final over Daniel Bryan on the SmackDown that aired on June 12. He defeated Drew Gulak in a defense on last week's telecast.
The match was announced after Styles, in a backstage interview Friday with Sarah Schriber, claimed there was nobody left to beat on SmackDown. She then informed him that he would be defending the belt against Riddle next week, to which an infuriated Styles demanded to know who Riddle beat to earn the shot. Naturally, Schriber pointed out that Riddle had, in fact, beaten Styles.
In addition to the victory over Styles, Riddle has also defeated John Morrison in his short time on the SmackDown brand.
Written by Justin Henry
In addition to writing lists and commentaries for Cultaholic, Justin is also a features writer and interviewer for Fighting Spirit Magazine, and is co-author of the WWE-related book Titan Screwed: Lost Smiles, Stunners, and Screwjobs.
