AJ Styles has intensified his psychological tactics against Dominik Mysterio on WWE programming, leading Mysterio to openly express feelings of harassment by The Phenomenal One. This development builds anticipation for their upcoming battle at WWE SummerSlam 2025, spotlighting the ongoing Dominik Mysterio AJ Styles rivalry for the Intercontinental Championship.
For weeks, AJ Styles has relentlessly targeted Dominik Mysterio’s WWE Intercontinental title, despite Mysterio’s medical status preventing them from clashing in the ring. Their originally scheduled title match at Night of Champions was cancelled due to Mysterio not being medically cleared, allowing Styles to adopt new strategies outside of direct competition to unsettle the champion.
Mind Games Intensify During WWE RAW’s July 21st Episode
The July 21 edition of Monday Night RAW featured a notable escalation in the rivalry as Dominik Mysterio arrived at the arena accompanied by members of Judgment Day, including Finn Balor, JD McDonagh, Raquel Rodriguez, and Roxanne Perez. After parking and handing over the car keys to the valet, Mysterio was shocked to discover AJ Styles disguised as the valet himself, a stunt intended to provoke and distract him.
Surprised by Styles’ presence, Mysterio accused him of crossing the line with his antics.
“What are you doing? This is harassement AJ.”
—Dominik Mysterio
This moment signals Styles’ new approach to their feud, moving from direct competition to psychological warfare. After Mysterio used his medical condition to avoid several confrontations, Styles has frequently infiltrated the Judgment Day’s domain and used various disguises, aiming to get inside Dirty Dom’s head and keep the pressure constant.
Series of Encounters Ends with SummerSlam Title Match Announcement
The harassment continued throughout WWE RAW as Styles appeared in multiple guises. After the valet incident, Mysterio encountered Styles again backstage, this time disguised as a cleaner, before Styles interrupted a tag team match involving Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez. During this match, Styles further intensified the mind games by impersonating medical personnel and pretending to administer CPR to Mysterio.
Dominik finally reacted with physicality when WWE General Manager Adam Pearce confirmed Dominik was medically cleared to compete. Mysterio turned on Styles, attacking him from behind, which set the stage for their highly anticipated SummerSlam showdown.
The official announcement confirmed Mysterio will defend his WWE Intercontinental Championship against AJ Styles at SummerSlam 2025, ending his ability to avoid the feud and forcing a conclusion to their heated rivalry.
High Stakes Await at WWE SummerSlam 2025
This storyline marks a significant chapter in both men’s careers, as AJ Styles attempts to unseat the young champion in a match that promises to test Dominik Mysterio like never before. The dominant psychological tactics and relentless pursuit by Styles highlight the intensity of their rivalry, which has captivated WWE audiences throughout the summer.
Fans are left eagerly anticipating whether AJ Styles can claim the Intercontinental title or if Dominik Mysterio will overcome the mind games and retain his championship at one of WWE’s biggest events of the year.
