Technically, WWE already has a new Intercontinental Champion as it is being reported that the final of the IC tournament between AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan was already filmed and is set to air on next Friday’s SmackDown on June 12th. However, that doesn’t mean that the two SmackDown stars can’t shoot one final angle building to that match, which is being described as yet another top-notch encounter between two of SmackDown’s stars. Perhaps such an angle will happen on Wednesday, June 10th, as WWE announced that Styles and Bryan will serve as co-grand marshals for the NASCAR Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 held in Martinsville, VA.
Time for AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan to start those engines.
WWE’s relationship with NASCAR is nothing new as superstars including John Cena, Rey Mysterio, Sheamus, Matt Hardy, and more, have found themselves involved in NASCAR races, either as honorary pace drivers, grand marshals or in other roles. Randy Orton once owned a NASCAR, even if it was promptly destroyed by Kofi Kingston. And even before WWE, Kyle Petty, an honorary member of the nWo, even drove an nWo branded car in a few races. Not to mention when Kyle Busch and Joey Logano hosted Monday Night Raw in 2009, an angle which manifested itself again 10 years later when Busch won the 24/7 Championship with the help of Michael Waltrip. Plus, it was during a NASCAR broadcast that WWE let slip that Brock Lesnar would be joining SmackDown upon the start of the brand split.
This Wednesday, @AJStylesOrg & @WWEDanielBryan will be the Grand Marshals for the @NASCARONFOX Cup Series, at 7p/4p, on @FS1! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/8dE4h0jjhp
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) June 6, 2020
With both WWE and NASCAR on FOX, the relationship between the two sides has only continued to flourish with Styles and Bryan’s appearance the latest example. Now, the two could just be there in ambassador-like roles as many wrestlers have served before them, but with their title match set to air just a few days later, it’s hard to believe WWE isn’t planning to shoot some kind of angle between the two on the race track prior to the crowning of a new champion on Friday.
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. WWE fan? Turn to the WWE Network for an endless array of wrestling content. Make sure to catch SmackDown every Friday night on FOX at 8 PM ET.
