IMPACT Reacts as AJ Styles and Abyss Reunite on WWE Smackdown

It seemed like a TNA Takeover on the August 14 episode of Friday Night SmackDown as long time colleagues AJ Styles and Abyss reunited on-screen. However, it was not in the way one would expect.

On the latest episode of SmackDown, Intercontinental Champion AJ Styles decided that he needed a statistician to list his potential opponents. For this, AJ decided to turn to an old friend.

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Abyss or Joseph Park, now going by the name of Mr. Park, appeared as Styles’ statistician. They put on a covered whiteboard with the names.

Surprisingly, the whiteboard had only the champ’s name because no one is able enough to defeat him.

However, another TNA alum decided to join the party. Jeff Hardy came down to the ring and said that Sheamus robbed his title shot, but he is willing to let that go.

Hardy then asked Styles “man to man” for a shot at the Championship. Coincidentally, the Intercontinental Championship was the first singles title won by Jeff back in 2001.

AJ Styles retorted by saying “this ain’t a pity party”, only to be attacked by Hardy. He wrote his name on the board and taunted Mister Park that he would go after him if the need be.

Abyss, aka Chris Park, was hired by WWE in 2019. He worked as a producer, and this is his first on-screen appearance for the company.

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AJ Styles and Abyss have a history together

Ironically, their former employer, TNA, posted an old throwback video of the two, right after Smackdown. The video was from 2005 TNA Lockdown, where AJ Styles faced Abyss in the main event.

Styles defeated Abyss to earn a title shot for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. He would eventually win the title for the third time, defeating Jeff Jarett at Hard Justice next month.

TNA seems to capitalize on the SmackDown segment. At least the Twitter universe thinks this incident is too convenient to be a coincidence.

Jeff Hardy will challenge AJ Styles for the Intercontinental Championship on the August 21 episode of SmackDown Next week.