AJ Styles WWE SmackDown return update

WWE is planning for AJ Styles to make his SmackDown return this Friday night.

On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer gave an update on Styles, noting that Styles is supposed to make his WWE return on this Friday's SmackDown. Styles was originally scheduled to return to the show four weeks ago, but he didn't end up appearing and hasn't been on SmackDown in the weeks since.

"By the way, AJ Styles is going to be back on Friday. Or he's supposed to be back on Friday," Meltzer said. "You know, he was supposed to be back a couple weeks ago and wasn't back. But that's the plan right now."

Styles hasn't appeared on WWE television since the September 22 episode of SmackDown. That night, there was an angle where Styles was taken out by The Bloodline's Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa. They attacked Styles backstage, with Sikoa hitting a splash on Styles through a table. Styles was stretchered out as part of the angle.

The storyline was that The Bloodline's attack prevented Styles from teaming with John Cena at Fastlane. LA Knight instead teamed with Cena at the PLE. They defeated Uso & Sikoa.

Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson, who are part of The OC with Styles, were in action at WWE's house shows this past weekend, marking the first time Gallows has wrestled since August. Gallows had been recovering after getting his knee scoped.

Friday's SmackDown is taking place from Providence, Rhode Island and is a special Tribute to the Troops edition of the show. Here's what's been announced for the episode:

• CM Punk returns to SmackDown
• United States Championship number one contender's tournament first-round match: Bobby Lashley vs. Karrion Kross
• United States Championship number one contender's tournament first-round match: Dragon Lee vs. Santos Escobar
• Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka