Daniel Bryan to face AJ Styles in WWE IC title tournament finals

After an angle on tonight’s SmackDown shook up the semifinals, the finals of WWE’s Intercontinental title tournament are now set.

Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles will face off in the finals of the Intercontinental title tournament on SmackDown in two weeks (Friday, June 12). Bryan advanced to the finals by defeating Sheamus on SmackDown tonight, while Styles automatically advanced after Elias was taken out of the tournament.

Tonight’s SmackDown opened with an angle where there had been a hit-and-run accident outside of the WWE Performance Center. Elias was hit by a car and the driver of the vehicle fled. It was revealed to be Jeff Hardy’s rental car and there was a bottle of alcohol found in it. A disoriented Hardy was found and taken into police custody, and Elias was also removed from the tournament due to being unable to compete.

Bryan vs. Hardy and Styles vs. Elias were supposed to be the semifinal matches. Styles wanted to move on to the finals automatically, but Bryan said he wasn’t a coward and wanted to face a new opponent. Sheamus won a 10-man battle royal and faced Bryan in the semifinals in the main event.

Hardy returned at the end of the show, with Bryan hitting the running knee and pinning Sheamus after Sheamus was distracted. Hardy then attacked Sheamus until he ran off.

WWE furthered the storyline by posting an update after SmackDown went off the air:

WWE Digital has learned Jeff Hardy was released from custody by the Orlando police after successfully passing the required sobriety tests, therefore absolving Hardy of the charges of public intoxication, driving under the influence, and the hit-and-run on Elias earlier tonight.

Elias was found injured in the parking lot with an abandoned car nearby before Friday Night SmackDown began. Hardy was taken into custody after being found dazed not from the scene but reemerged as Sheamus battled Daniel Bryan in the night’s final match.

Stay tuned to WWE social and digital channels for the latest updates on the developing situation.