Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: N'October 17 nke "SmackDown", Styles malitere ịlụ ọgụ na WWE Champion, Jinder Mahal, site na ịlụ ọgụ na ịwakpo ya. N'abalị iri abụọ na abụọ n'ọnwa Ọktoba, Styles pụtara na ihe omume Raw, na-asọmpi Finn Bálor n'ihi na onye iro mbụ nke Bálor bụ Bray Wyatt enweghị ikike ịsọ mpi, ebe Bálor meriri ya. Na November 7 nke "SmackDown" na Manchester, England, Styles meriri Jinder Mahal iji merie WWE Championship maka oge nke abụọ na ihe akara akara oge mbụ aha gbanwere aka na "SmackDown" kemgbe Septemba 2003, na-aghọ onye WWE ghọtara dị ka onye mbụ na-agba okpueze n'èzí North America (Antonio Inoki meriri aha ahụ na Japan na 1979, mana WWE anaghị amata ọchịchị a). Site na mmeri ahụ, Styles dochie Mahal na onye mmeri na onye mmeri na Survivor Series megide Onye mmeri Universal Brock Lesnar, nke ọ ga-agafe. Na
Nsogbu nke ndị mmeri na Disemba 17, Styles meriri Mahal site na ntinye aka na nchedo aha mbụ ya. Esemokwu nke ọzọ Styles nwere bụ megide Kevin Owens na Sami Zayn, bụ ndị ọ tụfuru azụ azụ n'ihi nnyonye anya, nke dugara na egwuregwu asọmpi nkwarụ na Royal Rumble na Jenụwarị 28, 2018 nke Styles meriri. Styles mechara gbachitere aha ya megide Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, John Cena, Baron Corbin, na Dolph Ziggler na nsogbu isii na Fastlane na Machị 11.