AJ Styles misses weekend house shows, WWE hopes he can wrestle on SmackDown Live this week

WWE World Champion AJ Styles suffered what was called a “minor” ankle injury during his TLC match with Dean Ambrose on Dec. 4 in Dallas. Then he showed up to SmackDown Live days later in a walking boot, unable to wrestle in the previously scheduled title match with James Ellsworth.

There was word he would miss the weekend house show run and that’s exactly the case, as the main event of the SmackDown house shows changed to Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt.

While it’s still unclear exactly how long he’ll be out of action, he isn’t scheduled to miss any TV time. Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that WWE is hoping he’ll be able to wrestle on this coming Tuesday night’s episode of SmackDown Live. If so, that could mean Ellsworth could be champion come Wednesday.

What a world that would be.

Either way, his ankle injury isn’t expected to keep him out too much longer, thankfully.