Real Reason AJ Styles Was Traded To WWE SmackDown

'The Phenomenal One' re-debuted for SmackDown last week.

AJ Styles
WWE

AJ Styles returned to WWE SmackDown last week, defeating Shinsuke Nakamura in the first round of the ongoing Intercontinental Championship tournament, having officially been announced as a blue brand Superstar during the 22 May broadcast itself.

WWE stated that Styles had been moved to the FOX show in exchange for a future pick for his old show, Monday Night Raw. Paul Heyman's brand is yet to play its hand.

Per Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, 'The Phenomenal One' was traded to SmackDown because WWE didn't want to limit him to the four appearances allowed by the new brand-to-brand invitational rule, which allows wrestlers to cross between shows a handful of time every year. Rather than break their own rules (which they are prone to doing anyway), WWE made AJ an SD full-timer.

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Styles himself has spoken out on the move during a recent appearance on Corey Graves' After the Bell podcast. He told the host that "doing something different" and getting away from Raw after his friends Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows were released "is good for me," as while he "doesn't know if I'll ever get over it, it helps change the atmosphere around me."

AJ faces Elias for a spot in the IC Title tournament finals on tonight's show.

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Channel Manager
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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. 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.