AJ Styles returns to SmackDown and attacks LA Knight

The last time we saw AJ Styles on WWE television, he left the arena in an ambulance truck after getting splashed by Solo Sikoa. Before that, Styles appeared set to team with John Cena to face Sikoa and Jimmy Uso at last October’s Fastlane premium live event before challenging Roman Reigns for the WWE Championship.

Instead, upstart babyface LA Knight took his spot. He helped Cena beat The Bloodline at Fastlane and nearly wrestled the WWE Title away from Reigns at the propaganda premium live event in Saudi Arabia.

While all this happened, Styles apparently channeled his inner Dolph Ziggler and simmered over these lost opportunities. It would certainly explain why “The Phenomenal One” did what he did at the end of the Dec. 15 episode of SmackDown.

Why did AJ Styles attack LA Knight?

After Randy Orton beat Uso in the SmackDown main event, Sikoa and the returning Roman Reigns ran out to beat Orton and Knight down. As Orton stared down The Bloodline, AJ Styles’ music hit, and a few moments later, he appeared behind Reigns’ group and dropped “The Tribal Chief” with a Phenomenal Forearm.

Just as all seemed well, though, Styles floored Knight with a big right hand before walking up the ramp, passing by The Bloodline and glaring at them, as the show ended. At the very least, it seems like WWE plans to book a feud between Styles and Knight with Styles assuming the heel role. On the surface, you can see what the company is thinking here.

With Orton getting the title shot at the Royal Rumble — Reigns turned him down on Friday, but he’ll accept Orton’s challenge once we get closer to the Royal Rumble — Styles gives Knight a high profile feud away from the championship and thus a chance to pick up a signature win over an established star.

For Styles, the abundance of over babyfaces in WWE allows him to slot into a more nefarious role, and he’s at the point in his career where he can use his clout as a former world champion to impart some of that credibility to those who need it; Knight is one of those people.

From a storyline standpoint, Styles and Knight could fight over who gets their hands on The Bloodline, as Styles still has issues with them (for what it’s worth, Styles will face Sikoa next week), but the aformentioned potential anger over Knight taking Styles’ spot could also be the catalyst for their rivalry.

We’ll have a better idea of what the plan is next week. Hopefully, it gets what should be a fun program off to a good start.