5 Biggest Winners & Losers From WWE SmackDown Live (Oct 11)

1. AJ Styles

AJ Styles might be the best wrestler on the planet. His epic TNA run helped put that promotion on the map, he had one of the most successful gaijin runs in NJPW history, and he’s consistently been WWE’s most exciting wrestler since joining in January. Now, AJ is WWE World Champion. He has pinned the once unbeatable John Cena in two consecutive matches, and pulls off Match of the Year calibre fights without even breaking a sweat.

Last night, however, he lost to a man with no chin.

Yes, it took considerable influence from the special guest referee, Dean Ambrose, but the history books won’t remember that. On October 11th, 2016, AJ Styles was pinned by James Ellsworth, and that’s all that matters.

It’s a huge disappointment for Styles, and while he’ll likely get the win back next week, he was utterly humiliated last night. He’d handpicked Ellsworth as his SmackDown Live opponent but he hadn’t banked on Daniel Bryan installing Ambrose as the referee, and that proved critical. The match was, of course, a ridiculous mess, but instead of giving himself an easy night, AJ Styles plumbed the depths.

Whether you like WWE’s decision to effectively job their champion to Ellsworth or not, this is a huge momentum hit for Styles. A rematch with Dean Ambrose looks to be on the horizon, and everything’s on the Lunatic Fringe’s side after last night.