As noted, former IWGP, NWA and TNA Champion AJ Styles was pulled from several recent NJPW shows as he continues to deal with a lingering lower back issue.
According to Enuhito, Styles was indeed pulled from the NJPW events for the same reason he was pulled from the recent Ring of Honor TV tapings, and that is indeed because of a lower back injury.
Styles took some time off to try and heal up from his nagging injury, and made non-wrestling appearances, but was again kept out of the ring for NJPW’s Tag League events.
Styles told New Japan’s bi-monthly magazine that the injury he is dealing with was caused by overworking himself on the independent scene in 2015. It has yet to be announced whether or not Styles will compete as scheduled on 12/18 at ROH’s big Final Battle event.
In related news, Ring of Honor has added a YouTube pre-show to its upcoming Final Battle PPV, and the bout will feature Brutal Bob Evans vs. Cheeseburger.
ROH World Championship:
-Jay Lethal (c) (w/ Truth Martini) vs. AJ Styles
ROH World Television Championship:
-Roderick Strong (c) vs. Bobby Fish
ROH World Tag Team Championship:
-Kingdom (c) vs. War Machine
-Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly
-Moose vs. Michael Elgin
YouTube Pre-Show Match:
-Cheeseburger vs. Brutal Bob Evans
WZ will be providing complete, LIVE coverage of ROH Final Battle on December 18th so be sure to join us then!