The REAL Reason AJ Styles Was Removed From WWE's Mixed Match Challenge
Did AJ's contract negotiations lead to his Mixed Match Challenge removal?
As reported last week, AJ Styles is currently locked in contract negotiations with WWE, as the former WWE Champion attempts to secure a lighter road schedule on his next renewal.
This coincided with 'The Phenomenal One' being pulled as Charlotte Flair's Mixed Match Challenge partner. Speculation followed, with many suggesting that AJ had been removed because WWE don't know if he'll be around in January, and therefore didn't want to hand him the guaranteed number 30 slot in the 2019 Royal Rumble.
Per Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, the speculation is baseless. The real reason WWE removed AJ from the competition was because they didn't want him or Flair to have to take a pinfall, so they substituted Styles for Jeff Hardy instead.
Flair's team are currently undefeated in the MMC, though she and Jeff will face The Fabulous Truth next week. That WWE didn't want her or AJ to lose suggests they aren't going all the way. Hardy, while popular, isn't a pushed commodity, and can therefore absorb any necessary pinfalls. Whether that comes against R-Truth and Carmella remains to be seen, but don't bet on him and Charlotte taking the tournament.