In Last week of SmackDown, itvwas announced that AJ Styles has been traded to SmackDown from Raw. He also participated in the WWE Intercontinental title Tournament. He also defeated the Shinsuke Nakamura in the 1st round of tournament and going to face Elias in the next round of tournament.

According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE had set long-term plans for The Phenomenal One before the decision was made to move him to SmackDown. He stated that Styles was supposed to put over a string of babyfaces on the Red brand, but the plans were dropped when it was decided to trade him to SmackDown. The names mentioned by Meltzer included Cedric Alexander, Ricochet, and Humberto Carrillo.