AJ Styles Injured; Bloodline Retain Titles

AJ Styles made a highly anticipated return to WWE's SmackDown after a hiatus, only to suffer an apparent knee injury during a match against Carmelo Hayes, leading to a forfeit. While the injury seemed legitimate, there are indications it might be a storyline angle, as Styles was later shown receiving medical attention backstage. The match was set up by United States Champion LA Knight, who promised Hayes a title shot if he could defeat Styles, adding intrigue to the storyline. Meanwhile, The Bloodline retained the WWE Tag Team Championships in a chaotic ladder match against DIY and The Street Profits, underscoring their dominance on SmackDown ahead of the Bad Blood event. Both storylines contributed to a dramatic episode of SmackDown, setting the stage for future developments in the WWE universe.