Backstage, Baron Corbin announces he is entering the Royal Rumble.
WWE Champion AJ Styles w/Shane McMahon vs Sami Zayn w/Kevin Owens (Daniel Bryan Will Also Be At Ringside)
As soon as the bell rings Styles floors Zayn with a clothesline. Styles slams Zayn into the turnbuckle. Suplex by Styles. Styles gets a near fall. Zayn retreats to the ropes. As the referee admonishes Styles, Zayn catches him with a right hand. Back body drop by Zayn for a near fall. Zayn lands a few chops. Styles tries to fight back but he ends up eating a knee by Zayn. Styles lands his dropkicks combo. Zayn rolls out fo the ring. Styles tries to retrieve him but a three-way argument between Owens, Bryan, and Shane breaks out. Styles tosses Zayn back into the ring. As Styles gets in the ring Zayn fisherman busters him. After a short break, Zayn has Styles in a rear chin lock. Styles tries to fight to his feet but Zayn drags him back down to the mat. Styles gets to his feet again. Styles takes down Zayn and hits a basement elbow. Gutbuster by Styles. Zayn kicks out. Styles picks up Zayn but Zayn elbows his way out of it. Zayn rolls out to the apron. Zayn stuns Styles on the top rope. Zayn climbs up top. Styles cuts him off. Styles pulls Zayn off the top rope and hits the Ushigorshi for another near fall.
Styles calls for the Styles Clash. Zayn blocks it. Styles gets Zayn up but Zayn flips out of it and hits a huge blue thunder bomb. Styles somehow kicks out. Styles crawls into the corner. Zayn tries the Helluva Kick but Styles sidesteps and locks in the Calf Crusher. Zayn almost gets to the rope but Styles rolls Zayn back to the middle of the ring. Zayn eventually gets to the ropes to break the hold. Zayn and Styles trade punches. Styles lands the Pelé kick. Styles charges in but Zayn backdrops him out to the apron. Styles tries the Phoenominal Forearm. Zayn ducks. Styles almost drives Zayn into the referee. The referee dives out of the ring to avoid it. Owens helps up the referee. Styles traps Zayn in a crucifix pin. Owens is blocking the referee from getting into the ring to count the fall. Owens finally moves out of the way and Zayn kicks out at two. Shane is livid. Styles is questioning the referee. Shane pushes Owens and instructs the referee to toss Owens. Bryan gets on the mic and tells Shane if Owens is leaving, Shane needs to as well. As Styles is distracted Zayn hits the Helluva Kick for the win.
Winner- Sami Zayn
After the match, Styles yells at Bryan and Shane to stop bickering like children. Styles says he doesn’t know who’s side Bryan it on. Since Owens and Zayn can’t stay out of each other’s matches, why not just put him in a handicap match against them both. Bryan (quite jovially, might I add) announces that Styles will defend the title against Owens and Zayn at the Royal Rumble in a handicap match. Bryan starts a Yes! chant on the announce table.
#WZChat
SAMI ZAYN BEAT THE WWE CHAMPION!? Loving this story, best story in WWE right now. It makes the match results interesting and elevate what comes next …wait, HANDICAP MATCH? ?#sdlive #wzchat
— Kevin 'Heff' Kellam (@Kevkellam) January 3, 2018
.@AJStylesOrg has a rough road ahead of him at #RoyalRumble…#SDLive pic.twitter.com/3XApES16l4
— WWE (@WWE) January 3, 2018
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