ADAM PEARCE ANNOUNCES HUGE TITLE MATCH BETWEEN AJ STYLES AND DOMINIK MYSTERIO!
In a dramatic episode of WWE Monday Night RAW aired from Birmingham, United Kingdom, General Manager Adam Pearce officially sanctioned a blockbuster Intercontinental Championship clash between reigning titleholder Dominik Mysterio and longtime contender AJ Styles. The high-stakes bout is scheduled for next week’s RAW, which will emanate from the iconic arena in Paris, France, the night after the highly anticipated Clash in Paris event.
Dominik Mysterio, currently enjoying his first Intercontinental Championship reign, has become the focal point of attention after his triumph over AJ Styles at SummerSlam Night 2 on August 3, held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. That confrontation was preceded by weeks of escalating tension, with Styles relentlessly targeting Mysterio through backstage ambushes and ring-side distractions.
During RAW in Birmingham, AJ Styles once again made his presence felt—this time by attacking Mysterio while he was at ringside, interfering in a match involving Mysterio’s Judgment Day stablemate, Dragon Lee. The chaos culminated in Mysterio directly confronting General Manager Pearce backstage, demanding that Styles be sanctioned. In response, Pearce seized the initiative and added a marquee title contest to next week’s Paris RAW: “Dirty Dom” versus “The Phenomenal One” for the Intercontinental Championship.
The timing couldn’t be more electric. The showdown will take place in Paris on September 1, immediately following the Clash in Paris event—already boasting a stacked lineup, including a women’s Intercontinental title match confirmed earlier. The French capital is expected to deliver a fever-pitch atmosphere, especially given Styles’s popularity among local fans and his past electrifying European receptions.
This announcement sets the stage for one of the most compelling chapters in recent WWE storytelling. Dominik Mysterio has demonstrated remarkable poise and resilience as champion. His SummerSlam performance not only reaffirmed his status—successfully defending the title against Styles—but also marked a pivotal moment in his evolution as a key singles competitor. Meanwhile, AJ Styles remains one of WWE’s most seasoned and beloved stars, whose relentless campaign to reclaim the Intercontinental Championship continues to unfold with intensity.
Further enriching the narrative is speculation that this match could serve as a turning point for Mysterio’s character. Some commentators argue that a loss here—especially under controversial circumstances—might catalyze his transition to a struggling but resilient babyface figure. There are even rumors that Finn Bálor, whose tension with Mysterio has simmered for weeks, could play a decisive role in the match’s outcome. The speculation suggests that a double-turn—Styles achieving redemption or ascendancy, while Mysterio begins a transformation into a more sympathetic figure—could be in the cards as storylines evolve toward WWE’s bigger fall pay-per-views.
Paris, with its passionate wrestling fans, may well bear witness to a dramatic shift in momentum. If Styles captures the title, the landscape of the Intercontinental Championship picture will shift profoundly, potentially paving the way for a high-profile rematch at Worlds Collide or even laying the groundwork for fresh rivalries. On the other hand, a retaining Mysterio would reinforce his legitimacy and further fuel his rise in WWE’s hierarchy.
The significance of this announcement echoes far beyond the ring. It reflects WWE’s continued investment in Paris and international markets, as well as its commitment to delivering dynamic, storyline-driven television. For fans tuning in next week, one thing is certain: they’ll be watching history in the making.
