Don’t get too invested in the AJ Styles/Samoa Joe match at Hell in a Cell

Rematches are the name of the game with WWE, but this is pretty wild even by their standards.

With almost three weeks to go until their WWE Title match at Hell in a Cell on Sept. 16 (itself a rematch from SummerSlam earlier this month), we already know Samoa Joe and AJ Styles will battle again at Super Show-Down, the stadium show coming our way from Melbourne on Oct. 6.

The announcement lists Styles as WWE Champ, which would seem to telegraph the finish of next month’s match in San Antonio. But even if that’s just an oversight, misdirection or “card subject to change”, this doesn’t give us a lot of incentive to take their match at the next pay-per-view (PPV) too seriously. They’re gonna do it again on a Network special a few weeks later, regardless of outcome. Which, rematch clauses do anyway, but c’mon. This is blatant even considering that.

This was a rivalry many thought was deserving of the Hell in a Cell stipulation coming out of Brooklyn. With two matches inside the Structure already confirmed, it seems like a long-shot for that. You have to wonder how SmackDown creative will raise the stakes for a third match in two months, especially considering the first one featured a crying toddler.

Here’s an updated look at the card for The MCG:

• The Undertaker vs. Triple H
• John Cena and Bobby Lashley vs. Elias and Kevin Owens
• Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz with the winner getting a future WWE Title shot
• The Shield vs. Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre
• Ronda Rousey and The Bella Twins vs. The Riott Squad
• Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles (c) for the WWE Championship