WWE Smackdown: AJ Styles to face Dean Ambrose at Backlash
Ziggler misses out after losing to Styles in main event
Wednesday 24 August 2016 10:02, UK
AJ Styles will challenge Dean Ambrose for the WWE World Championship at the Backlash pay-per-view on September 11.
Styles was named as the No 1 contender to Ambrose's title by Smackdown General Manager Daniel Bryan following his pinfall victory over John Cena at SummerSlam on Sunday night.
However, The Phenomenal One had to beat Dolph Ziggler on Tuesday's episode of the blue brand to ensure The Show-Off did not make next month's championship match a Triple Threat.
Styles downed Ziggler with a Styles Clash to earn a third singles shot at the world title, having been defeated in his previous championship bouts against Roman Reigns at Payback and Extreme Rules.
Two fresh titles were also introduced to Smackdown, with Bryan and Shane McMahon unveiling their show's Women's and Tag Team straps.
Nikki Bella, Becky Lynch, Carmella, Naomi, Natalya and Alexa Bliss will compete for the Women's Title in a Six-Pack Challenge at Backlash, though hostilities began early on Smackdown.
Lynch submitted Bliss with the Dis-arm-her, while Bella - making her return to Smackdown following neck surgery - was blindsided by Carmella before their match could officially start.
The Tag Team Championships will be awarded at Backlash, too, following the finals of a tournament in which The Usos, American Alpha and the currently unassigned Heath Slater are part of.
The Usos progressed to the semi-finals with a victory over The Ascension, while American Alpha duo Jason Jordan and Chad Gable defeated Breezango with Grand Amplitude.
Slater also convinced Rhyno to become his partner and will now be awarded a Smackdown contract if he and The Man Beast, who will be in action together next week, win the twin titles at Backlash.
Watch WWE Smackdown every Tuesday night (Wednesday morning) at 1am on Sky Sports 5.
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