6 New WWE Directions After Battleground 2017

3. AJ Styles Is Once Again A Challenger

As quickly as he defeated Kevin Owens in Madison Square Garden to become the new United States Champion, poor AJ Styles is now once again a challenger rather than champ. WWE only booked the title switch in MSG to spike interest in live events (and reportedly give AJ another landmark moment to crow about on his upcoming DVD), but it was shocking to see him to lose to KO on Sunday.

Like other beaten champions in WWE regularly do, Styles should receive a rematch at SummerSlam for the title. The question is: why couldn't his first run with the US gold last just a little bit longer? What was the big rush for WWE to take the title from him? It doesn't make much sense, but it has taken things in a new direction.

The writers must be careful though, because booking another KO defeat at SummerSlam could damage his credibility as a heel. He's already been ousted from the World Title picture this year, so Owens doesn't need to play second fiddle in the secondary title hunt too.