WWE SmackDown 5 Takeaways: AJ Styles Is Moving On

AJ Styles is The Phenomenal One on WWE SmackDown. Credit: WWE.com

2. A.J. Styles is Done With the United States Championship Picture

The Phenomenal A.J. Styles has carried the United States Championship with great pride over the past few months and has elevated that championship to a level it hasn’t seen since John Cena’s run as U.S. Champion in 2015.  But despite this being a positive for SmackDown, it’s clear Styles is a top guy on SmackDown and deserves to be in the main event.

And last night’s SmackDown might have just signaled a change for the better for Styles.  After losing his title to Baron Corbin at Hell in a Cell in a Triple Threat Match along with Tye Dillinger, Styles immediately asked for his rematch and Corbin defended his newly-won U.S. Championship against Styles last night.

The two put forth a very solid match with Styles shining as he always does, but also being so good that he makes his opponents look like a million bucks.  And Styles did just that with Corbin last night and Corbin defeated Styles to retain his championship.  The Lone Wolf has countless other superstars that can step up and challenge him for the U.S. Championship, and with Styles out of the equation, The Phenomenal One could be on to bigger and better things.

Rumors have called for Styles to be the next challenger for Jinder Mahal and the WWE Championship and that would be the perfect opponent to help make Mahal seem like a legitimate WWE Champion.  Not to mention, Mahal needs a standout match as WWE Champion and Styles certainly can help out with that.

The Phenomenal One has done his job in elevating the U.S. Championship and now could be in line for a second WWE Championship reign in the future.