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WWE again promoted and then delayed an AJ Styles vs. James Ellsworth match on the Dec. 13 SmackDown, the second time they’ve done so since the World champ suffered a “minor ankle injury” at the TLC pay-per-view (PPV) on Dec. 4.
Styles was also taken off house shows last weekend to give him a chance to rest and rehab his ankle.
It appears he’s going to need some more time.
SEScoops reported a short time ago that WWE has pulled the champ who runs the camp from all live events for the next week and a half. He’s set to return at the Dec. 26 Madison Square Garden house show, where he defends against John Cena and Dean Ambrose. A televised title bout with Dolph Ziggler was set-up for Dec. 27 on the most recent SmackDown.
Missing the better part of a month is a bummer, but if that’s what it takes to get one of the best wrestlers in the world back to 100%...
It’s also the latest positive sign for how highly regarded AJ is with the powers-that-be that they’re writing storylines around the injury in order to not only keep the belt on him, but keep him on television while he heals.