AJ Styles In The WWE Intercontinental Title Tournament, Next Week's Tournament Matches
The tournament for the vacant WWE Intercontinental Title began during tonight's SmackDown on FOX episode.
The two matches saw Daniel Bryan defeat Drew Gulak to advance, while Elias defeated King Baron Corbin to advance.
The next two matches are AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and Sheamus vs. Jeff Hardy. Those matches will take place next Friday night on SmackDown.
Bryan will face the winner of Hardy vs. Sheamus and Elias will face the winner of Nakamura vs. Styles.
Michael Cole noted on commentary that WWE's digital and social platforms will explain how and why AJ, the only RAW Superstar in the tournament, is going for the one WWE title that has eluded him in the tournament.
Below are a few shots from tonight's tournament matches:
.@IAmEliasWWE and #King @BaronCorbinWWE kick off the action in the #ICTitle Tournament right now on #SmackDown! pic.twitter.com/C0Xg5SuI76
? WWE (@WWE) May 16, 2020
#King @BaronCorbinWWE has @IAmEliasWWE right where he wants him in this #ICTitle Tournament Match on #SmackDown. pic.twitter.com/Cge18h4yyX
? WWE (@WWE) May 16, 2020
????????#SmackDown @WWEGraves @BaronCorbinWWE pic.twitter.com/P63Lgt7YLd
? WWE (@WWE) May 16, 2020
Once you play @IAmEliasWWE's ??, you ?????????? the line! King @BaronCorbinWWE just learned that out the painful way... #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/XIvaBgZn35
? WWE (@WWE) May 16, 2020
.@MichaelCole has had about enough of this. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/aQayQCdKp5
? WWE (@WWE) May 16, 2020
.@IAmEliasWWE is moving on in the #ICTitle tournament!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/iWUB12f99Z
? WWE (@WWE) May 16, 2020
.@WWEDanielBryan battles @DrewGulak in the first round of the #ICTitle tournament NEXT on #SmackDown! pic.twitter.com/bZzSD8SXzU
? WWE (@WWE) May 16, 2020
Here we go.#SmackDown #ICTitle pic.twitter.com/4rmKNs5g9s
? WWE (@WWE) May 16, 2020
The respect is strong and the competition even stronger as @WWEDanielBryan and his mentor @DrewGulak battle in the #ICTitle Tournament! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/HZX3oCnP9j
? WWE (@WWE) May 16, 2020
Escape an ankle lock, get a German suplex.#SmackDown @WWEDanielBryan @DrewGulak pic.twitter.com/9DBwnTbOsS
? WWE (@WWE) May 16, 2020
.@WWEDanielBryan advances in the #ICTitle tournament! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/9fMxkoVhR2
? WWE (@WWE) May 16, 2020
Respect.#SmackDown @WWEDanielBryan @DrewGulak pic.twitter.com/yfbJfsdMYv
? WWE (@WWE) May 16, 2020