Intercontinental Champion Dominik "Dirty Dom" Mysterio has been officially removed from the card due to an undisclosed injury. This unexpected setback leaves his scheduled title defense against AJ Styles postponed indefinitely and creates a significant void in the championship-heavy event.
The news broke on the latest episode of Monday Night RAW, where General Manager Adam Pearce informed AJ Styles that Mysterio was not medically cleared to compete. While the exact nature of Dominik's injury remains unknown, his presence in a backstage segment on RAW suggests it's not a debilitating, career-threatening issue. However, the timing is undoubtedly a blow for the young champion, who recently captured the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 41 in a chaotic Fatal 4-Way match.
This development follows closely on the heels of another injury within The Judgment Day, as Dominik's on-screen girlfriend, Liv Morgan, also suffered a shoulder injury on RAW the previous week. While WWE has not yet announced how this affects the Women's Tag Team Championships held by Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez, the string of injuries to prominent members of The Judgment Day raises questions about their collective momentum.
With the Intercontinental Championship match off the card, WWE quickly moved to fill the void. Heated rivals Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez are now set to clash in a Street Fight at Night of Champions, escalating their weeks-long animosity. Additionally, Sami Zayn and Karrion Kross will face off in a singles match, adding another layer to the Saudi Arabia-based Premium Live Event.
While fans will undoubtedly be disappointed to miss "Dirty Dom" in action, the fact that he has not been forced to relinquish his title is a positive sign for his eventual return. AJ Styles has been assured he will receive his Intercontinental Championship opportunity once Mysterio is medically cleared. For now, the wrestling world awaits further updates on Dominik's condition and anticipates his return to defend the gold.
