6 Totally Accidental Wrestling Title Changes
2. AJ Styles’ Bizarre US Title Screw-Up
They’re two of SmackDown’s most exciting performers, but the ongoing AJ Styles/Kevin Owens feud hasn’t really delivered in the ring yet. The duo were having a fine match at Backlash, but it was soured by a dumb countout finish, and while their Battleground rematch will ultimately be remembered for its conclusion, the action prior to it was nothing to get excited about.
The finish was a complete shambles though. Owens, the challenger, rolled out of a crossface and into a cradle. AJ was supposed to kick out and retain, but the dazed referee counted the 1, 2, 3, and while the immediate speculation suggested the result had been changed on the fly, consensus now states that this was a massive botch.
Styles was supposedly livid with the official afterwards, even though it was entirely his fault. He neglected to kick out, and the belt he’d won just two weeks prior was gone, although AJ did regain it two days later on SmackDown. WWE certainly aren’t shy of hot-shotting belts in 2017, but given that almost every major wrestling insider has come out in agreement, it’s probably safe to say this outcome wasn’t in the script.