Despite being sidelined with a legitimate rib injury, Dominik Mysterio will not be stripped of the Intercontinental Championship. The injury forced the cancellation of his scheduled title defense against AJ Styles at the upcoming Night of Champions premium live event on June 28.
The announcement was made during the June 23 episode of WWE RAW, where General Manager Adam Pearce confirmed Mysterio was not medically cleared to compete. A subsequent report provided more detail on the situation.
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer confirmed the nature of the injury and the company’s plans.
It’s a rib injury, he’s not gonna be out for very long. They’re not gonna strip him of the title or anything like that.
This decision stands in contrast to other recent injuries that have impacted WWE champions. Women’s Tag Team Champion Liv Morgan and Speed Champion Chad Gable are both set for shoulder surgery. Furthermore, WWE recently vacated the NXT Heritage Cup after Noam Dar suffered an injury, with Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo winning the title on the June 24 episode of NXT.
The company’s confidence in Mysterio’s relatively quick recovery appears to be the reason for maintaining his championship status. Upon his return, AJ Styles is slated to receive the first title opportunity. Mysterio captured the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 41 and has successfully defended it on three occasions.