After a lengthy absence due to injury, former WWE Champion AJ Styles made his triumphant return to SmackDown on Oct. 4, 2024.
Unfortunately, a great match between Styles and Carmelo Hayes would come to an abrupt end when the Phenomenal One suffered an injury.
WWE reported that Styles had suffered a “mid-foot ligament sprain,” but continued to show footage of Styles and the injury, prompting fans to suggest that maybe this whole thing was a work and part of a storyline.