WWE Smackdown: AJ Styles defeats Jinder Mahal to become new WWE Champion

Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Jinder Mahal's lengthy championship reign came to an end Tuesday on Smackdown Live as AJ Styles defeated The Modern Day Maharaja to become the new WWE Champion.

The main event of the night, the match was made by Smackdown commissioner Shane McMahon on Friday after Mahal had brutally assaulted Styles on last week's edition of Smackdown.

The grueling title match featured fighting outside the ring as Mahal tossed Styles onto the announcer's table at one point and interference from The Singh Brothers who, as always, tried their best to protect their leader.

Styles seemed destined to win after striking Mahal with an impressive 450 Splash butThe Singh Brothers were able to pull Mahal out of the ring before he could be pinned. The Phenomenal One, enraged, then attacked The Singh Brothers to even the odds.

Mahal was then able to reverse Styles' Phenomenal Forearm into a Khallas and quickly pinned his rival before the high-flyer barely got his foot on the ropes to break up the three count. Mahal, wanting to inflict maximum damage, attempted a Khallas from the top rope before Styles was able to leap into the air and connect with a Phenomenal Forearm for the three count.

Styles, now a two-time WWE Champion, celebrated in the ring much to crowd's delight.

Mahal first won the WWE Championship back in May when he defeated Randy Orton at Backlash to earn the title. Mahal then successfully defended the championship multiple times against Orton and then Shinsuke Nakamura, normally with help from the Singh Brothers.

Styles is now destined to meet Raw's Universal Champion Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series in a champion vs. champion match, a bout that Mahal first requested in October and one that has been built up in recent weeks on WWE programming.

Lesnar and his advocate Paul Heyman will surely comment on The Beast's new opponent when they return Monday on Raw. Notably, Mahal does have a rematch clause where he challenge Styles for a chance to win back the title.

Also on Smackdown Live, Shane McMahon congratulated The New Day on invading Raw recently which led to Shield members Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose losing their Raw Tag Team Championships against Cesaro and Sheamus.

Best friends Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn interrupted The New Day and McMahon which led to a match between The New Day's Kofi Kingston and Zayn which Kingston won after a splash from the top rope.

Other moments included Orton defeating Rusev to prevent The Bulgarian Brute from joining Smackdown's Survivor Series team; Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable defeating The Usos in a Tag Team Championship match by count-out which allows The Usos to keep the titles; and Becky Lynch defeating Ms. Money in the Bank Carmella's side-piece James Ellsworth in a battle of the sexes.

Carmella notably kicked Ellsworth in the face after his loss, possibly hinting at the end of their partnership.