AJ Styles made a highly anticipated return to SmackDown on October 4, 2024, after a long recovery from injury. His comeback match against Carmelo Hayes was setting up to be exciting, but it ended abruptly when Styles unfortunately sustained another injury.
According to WWE, Styles is dealing with a “mid-foot ligament sprain,” which left fans speculating if this was part of a storyline. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Styles addressed the situation on social media, informing a curious fan that he suffered a Lisfranc injury, calling it a painful experience. He amusingly noted, “I thought when I took off my boot, I would have a bone sticking out of my foot.”
It’s called a Lisfranc injury. Look it up, it sucks! I thought when I took off my boot. I would have a bone sticking out of my foot. https://t.co/7eEHiHC0Zg
— AJ Styles (@AJStylesOrg) October 15, 2024
Another fan pointed out the seriousness of a Lisfranc injury, saying it ended several NFL careers, including Cam Newton’s in 2016. Styles humorously replied, “Bingo! As the kids say… I’m cooked!”
While it’s disappointing to think about Styles stepping back once more, he can take immense pride in his accomplishments.
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Starting his wrestling journey in 1998, Styles first made a name for himself in independent promotions before making sporadic appearances in WCW and WWF (now WWE).
He then joined Ring of Honor (ROH), famously feuding with wrestling legends like CM Punk and Brian Danielson. Styles was the first ROH Pure Champion and held the ROH World Tag Team Championship alongside Amazing Red.
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Styles later signed with TNA, where he became a cornerstone of the promotion from 2002 to 2014, engaging in epic rivalries with Samoa Joe, Kurt Angle, and Sting, and winning multiple championships.
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After stints with ROH and NJPW, Styles surprised fans by joining WWE in 2016, where he clashed with major names like John Cena and Undertaker. His accolades there include becoming a two-time WWE Champion and a three-time WWE United States Champion. In 2010, Pro Wrestling Illustrated recognized him as the top wrestler in the world.