AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe confirmed for WWE SummerSlam
Samoa Joe has been confirmed as AJ Styles’ opponent for SummerSlam.
Tonight’s segment with Paige revealing Styles’ WWE Championship challenger for the pay-per-view ended with Joe ambushing Styles, putting him in the Coquina Clutch, and signing his name on the title match contract. Though they’ve faced each other on house shows and plenty of times before signing with the company, this will be the first televised Styles vs. Joe match in WWE.
After James Ellsworth came out while she was trying to announce Styles’ opponent, Paige was backstage while Joe attacked Styles. Paige said that Ellsworth was fired and had him taken out of the building.
There was then a segment where Paige was unhappy with Joe after the attack. She said she chose Joe because he’s unpredictable and because of his killer instinct, and Joe pointed out that he showed that in his actions.
Joe had already defeated R-Truth in a quick match earlier on SmackDown.
SummerSlam is taking place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on August 19. Here’s the updated card:
- Universal Champion Brock Lesnar defending against Roman Reigns
- Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss defending against Ronda Rousey
- WWE Champion AJ Styles defending against Samoa Joe
- Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler defending against Seth Rollins
- SmackDown Women’s Champion Carmella defending against Becky Lynch
- Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens (Owens gets Strowman’s Money in the Bank briefcase if he wins)
- SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Bludgeon Brothers defending against the winners of SmackDown’s tag team tournament