Backstage Update On AJ Styles' WWE Heel Turn

Was The Club's reunion a spur of the moment thing?

by Andy H Murray
AJ Styles Ricochet
WWE.com

This week's Monday Night Raw saw WWE pull a surprise AJ Styles heel turn, with 'The Phenomenal One' reforming The Club with Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson to close the flagship show.

It went over extremely well and came after weeks of build, with Styles needling Gallows and Anderson for failing to live up to their old selves, before the Good Brothers eventually turned it back on him. When AJ's allies questioned his ability to beat Ricochet for the United States Championship, Styles got into it with 'The One and Only' backstage, then, with Gallows and Anderson's help, beat him down to turn heel and reform The Club after Raw's main event.

Per POST Wrestling, this wasn't one of WWE's usual last-minute, spur of the moment decisions. WWE had actually been planning it for a while, and it had nothing to do with Paul Heyman's creative takeover either.

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WWE's lack of long-term planning is a common criticism, so it's good to hear a story like this. The turn, which got over huge, was built to carefully and with purpose, and should now give him a much-needed refresh as The Club rip through Raw.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.