5 reasons why AJ Styles lost the title to Daniel Bryan

AJ Styles, shockingly, lost the WWE Championship to Daniel Bryan on this week's SmackDown Live, after holding the title for 371 days since winning it back on November 7, 2017 when he defeated Jinder Mahal.

Bryan's win on SmackDown against Styles - which is also his first title in WWE since his return to the ring, means that Bryan will now face Brock Lesnar on Sunday at Survivor Series, in a match between the Universal Champion and the WWE Champion.

Here, we look at the 5 reasons why AJ Styles lost the title to Daniel Bryan:

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#1 To turn Bryan heel

Bryan has already got some heat from the WWE fans

Since returning to in-ring action earlier this year, Daniel Bryan has been one of the most popular Superstars and babyfaces on WWE television. The former SmackDown GM gets a huge pop whenever he enters the ring and was super over with the fans... until this week on SmackDown.

WWE teased a Bryan heel turn last week when he attacked Samoa Joe, The Miz, as well as Shane McMahon to end SmackDown Live. Bryan looked angry and had a wickedness about him that hinted at a heel turn.

It makes little sense why Bryan turned heel, considering there are many good heels on SmackDown, namely The Miz, Samoa Joe, Randy Orton, and Shinsuke Nakamura, to name a few.

Bryan is one of a few top babyfaces on the blue brand, but WWE have decided to turn him heel, and the best way to do so was to cheat his way to a victory against a top babyface in WWE television, and someone who has held the title for as long as Styles has. Screwing over Styles has ensured that Bryan will have nuclear heat the next time he makes his way to a SmackDown ring.

Perhaps WWE want to set-up a feud between Styles and Bryan which will extend till Royal Rumble, and having a face vs heel dynamic makes things more interesting than a face vs face rivalry, despite both wrestlers being great in-ring performers.

#2 To protect AJ Styles from losing to Brock Lesnar again

AJ Styles and Brock Lesnar put on a great match at last year's Survivor Series, where it seemed like at one point, Lesnar would lose to Styles. Lesnar did eventually win, but the respect for Styles among the WWE Universe only rose following that match.

We were set to have Part II of that match at this weekend's Survivor Series, but instead, we'll see Bryan and Lesnar will face off against each other for the first time.

Perhaps WWE changed the match to protect Styles from another defeat and make him look strong, showing the WWE Universe that he is one of the best in the world.

Even the finish to the match against Bryan made Styles look strong as he was defeated only after Bryan hit him with a low blow and not a clean finish. This means that the WWE still consider Styles to be the top dog on SmackDown Live and WWE, and hence it will only be a matter of time before he's back at the top, challenging for the WWE title.

#3 A new champ on SmackDown

Daniel Bryan vs The Miz for the WWE Championship?

After holding the WWE Championship belt for over a year, it was time for a change on SmackDown Live and for Styles to give way. Styles won the belt from Jinder Mahal, whose run with the title was disappointing, to say the least.

Styles elevated the prestige of the belt once again, having notable feuds with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura, and finally with Samoa Joe. But, even though Styles was great in the ring and his feuds interesting, it was time for another person, maybe a heel, to add a new dimension to the WWE Championship.

In WWE with Bryan as champ, we could see the continuation of the long-awaited Daniel Bryan vs The Miz feud, this time for a top championship belt. And with Samoa Joe looking as menacing as ever, the WWE Championship is going to get heated once again.

#4 AJ Styles to win MMC and be #30 at RR

This one is a rather left-field opinion, but, hey, WWE are doing everything in their position to increase their viewership on all fronts. The Mixed Match Challenge airs on Facebook Watch, and is one of the few competitions where WWE's men and women compete with each other in the same ring.

It is a lot of fun to watch, with a lot of comedic flavour, as well as great in-ring action. It was recently announced that the winners of the Mixed Match Challenge would get a spot in their respective Royal Rumbles, coming at #30 - the last entry in the battle royal.

Styles and Charlotte have teamed up in the competition and have looked dominant, winning all three of their matches, making them firm favourites to win the title. Following the match with Bryan, Styles couldn't compete in the MMC and was replaced by Jeff Hardy, who continued the winning streak as Charlotte and Hardy made it 4-0 for the team.

Styles could return to the competition and then win the finals, which will take place at TLC.

#5 Injury

At 41 years of age, AJ Styles is by no means "young" in the pro wrestling world. Styles has been one of the hardest working Superstars on the roster, wrestling most live events and on SmackDown, and the tough life on the road as well as the pain he inflicts on his body with his acrobatic moves may have taken a toll on his health.

WWE announced following the match against Bryan that Styles was injured and hence will not compete in the MMC match, although this could be a kayfabe injury.

Styles may have asked for some time off to heal and rest, as well as spend time with his family, hence may have been written off television with an injury. The "injury" also allows him to come back with a bang and get a huge pop later down the road, and perhaps face off against Bryan.

Edited by Riju Dasgupta