AJ Styles has said that Baron Corbin is a Superstar who takes shortcuts and squanders opportunities. Well, The Lone Wolf was pretty straightforward with The Phenomenal One about what he wants next: a match at WWE Hell in a Cell for the United States Title.
Corbin is coming off a cruel summer by any measure, but the former Mr. Money in the Bank didn't let a failed bid for the WWE Championship stop him from going after one of SmackDown LIVE's most popular Superstars. For weeks, The Lone Wolf meddled in AJ's affairs, interfering in The Phenomenal One's planned United States Open Challenge title defense against Tye Dillinger on the Aug. 29 edition of the blue brand before the opening bell could ring. Weeks later, Corbin savagely attacked AJ and Dillinger after Styles successfully defended the star-spangled title in a bout against The Perfect 10. However, before the score could be settled in a one-on-one title showdown between Styles and Corbin on Sept. 18, Dillinger emerged for some payback of his own, brawling with The Lone Wolf and preventing the match from ever getting started.
Styles has remained champion through all of this, but his comments about The Lone Wolf's work ethic and efficiency finally drove the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner off the edge following a bout with Dillinger one week later. Corbin attacked Styles mid-match and, after disposing of The Perfect 10, stated in no uncertain terms that Styles could not defend the title against him one-on-one, leading to the challenge at WWE Hell in a Cell.
In other words, no shortcuts were taken, and Corbin now has his match. What he does with the opportunity is up to him.
