Breaking News: WWE changes Smackdown main event to Styles challenging Mahal for WWE Title, change from Rusev-Styles plan (w/Keller’s Analysis)

WWE announced today that A.J. Styles will face Jinder Mahal next Tuesday on Smackdown Live, a change from the Rusev vs. Styles qualifying match that was advertised on Tuesday. That would mean, based on WWE’s statements on TV, that if Styles won the WWE Title, he’d face Brock Lesnar instead of Jinder Mahal at Survivor Series.

WWE has not addressed, in their WWE.com story, what this means for the Survivor Series qualifier match scheduled between Rusev and Styles. Rusev, though, did on Twitter (in character).

I’m so good. @AJStylesOrg already quit. Hahahahahah. Go team Smackdown. #RusevDay is coming to #SurvivorSeries

— Rusev (@RusevBUL) November 2, 2017

Keller’s Analysis: This feels like a panic move after the 1.53 rating for Smackdown this week up against the World Series game six. It also could be a decision made based on a realization that Survivor Series will draw more interest if it features Lesnar vs. Styles in a champion vs. champion match rather than Lesnar vs. Mahal. Or it could be because they want to get the title off of Mahal for other reasons, or onto Styles for other reasons. Either way, it’s unfortunate that the show is pre-taped in England where a spoiler will get out, although that could also be WWE’s strategy – do a title change and hope that the resulting Internet and social media buzz pops a rating well above the potential dismal rating for a pre-taped show a week after the lowest rating of the year. Those who were hoping for Styles to become champion or are excited about the prospects of a Lesnar vs. Styles match at Survivor Series shouldn’t assume anything yet, though.