AJ Styles made his long-awaited return to WWE television on SmackDown last week, but things didn’t go as planned. During his match with Carmelo Hayes, where Hayes emerged victorious, Styles sustained an injury.
WWE later confirmed that Styles suffered a mid-foot ligament sprain, and he was shown being evaluated by the medical team before leaving the arena on crutches. Although early reports suggested his absence might be part of a storyline, it was later confirmed that Styles had suffered an injury.
The Phenomenal One had been absent from WWE since stepping in for Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at the Clash at the Castle event in June. It wasn\'t due to injury, but lack of creative. In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that Styles was frustrated with the situation, as it could impact future plans.
WWE had intended to start a storyline involving Styles embarking on a farewell tour, teasing his eventual retirement. However, the direction of this storyline now hinges on the results of an MRI, which will determine the severity of his injury.
Styles is 47 years old and began his pro wrestling career in 1998.
