How Edge’s Social Media Promo Affected World Heavyweight Championship Plans

WWE

The finals of the tournament to crown the new World Heavyweight Champion are now set, with AJ Styles punching his ticket to Night of Champions on last night’s episode of SmackDown.

The result came as a bit of a shock to some, as Edge had recently shared a video to social media about wanting to win back the World Heavyweight Championship that he was forced to relinquish when he retired back in 2011.

Many believed the video implied that Edge would be going to the championship match at Night of Champions, if not even winning the title on the show.

However, per Fightful Select (subscription required), the decision for Styles to advance to the finals was made before Edge posted his promo to social media.

By proxy of winning the SmackDown side of the tournament, not only does AJ earn a World Heavyweight Championship match with Seth Rollins, but more importantly, an appearance on the SmackDown premiere episode of the Grayson Waller Effect on next week’s show.

Here are results from the Friday, May 12 episode of WWE SmackDown:

AJ Styles def. Edge, Rey Mysterio in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship tournament

Bobby Lashley def. Austin Theory, Sheamus in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship tournament

Grayson Waller appeared in a backstage segment with Adam Pearce and announced the winner of the Styles vs Lashley main event would appear on his Grayson Waller Effect talk show next week

Cameron Grimes def. Baron Corbin

Roman Reigns made his first appearance since WrestleMania 39 and said that Solo Sikoa has stepped up, but the Usos are a problem and that they embarrassed him

Paul Heyman then announced Reigns and Sikoa would be challenging Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia

Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez def. Bayley & Dakota Kai to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship

Former NXT Tag Team Champions Pretty Deadly made their SmackDown debut backstage, setting up a match against the Brawling Brutes for next week

Bianca Belair appeared for a ‘celebration’ in her hometown of Knoxville, but was interrupted by a returning Asuka who spat mist in Belair’s face

AJ Styles def. Bobby Lashley in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship tournament

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• AJ Styles
• world heavyweight championship
• Smackdown
• Edge

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