Kayla Braxton interviewed AJ Styles, asking about Tye Dillinger being added to his match against Baron Corbin tonight. She asked for his thoughts. Styles said that he knows where Daniel Bryan is coming from, but that doesn't mean he has to like it. He said he doesn't have to be beaten to lose his title but is going to make the best of a bad opportunity and show why he's the U.S. champion.
Randy Orton vs. Rusev.
Orton almost snapped Rusev with a RKO out of nowhere but Rusev retreated to the floor. When he returned to the ring, Orton stomped away at him. He set up for the hanging DDT off the ropes but Rusev saved himself and drilled Orton off the apron. Orton crashed hard into the barricade. Rusev followed up, drilling him hard into the barricades a second time. Rusev snapped Orton with a kick between the shoulder blades. He locked in a side chinlock and tried to wear Orton down.
Orton went to the floor. Rusev followed but was picked up and drilled down on the barricade. Rusev still caught Orton, driving him into the apron, but was showing signs that his back was hurting. He covered Orton for a two count. Rusev whipped him into the corner and went for a splash but Orton moved. Rusev hit his head on the top of the ringpost. Orton recovered and began nailing a series of right hands. Rusev cut off Orton but was quickly caught with a lariat. Orton failed at a powerslam attempt but nailed it on a second attempt.
Orton was caught with a kick to the head but kicked out. Rusev began attacking Orton's back to set up the Accolade. Orton went to the floor. Rusev charged around the ring and nailed a big kick to the face. Randy cut off Rusev and nailed the hanging DDT. He set up for the RKO but when he went to pound on the mat, Rusev grabbed his arms and flipped around him to go for the Accolade, only to find himself hit with the RKO out of nowhere.
Your winner, Randy Orton!
Good match but the end was never in doubt.
They aired a Kurt Angle KFC commercial.
The announcers reviewed the events leading up to Tye Dillinger being added to the United States championship match.
WWE United States champion AJ Styles vs. Tye Dillinger vs. Baron Corbin
Corbin went to the floor to let the other two fight it out but instead they went to the floor to confront him. Corbin slid into the ring but was caught and worked over. They hit a double clothesline, sending him over th top to the floor. Dillinger and Styles turned their attention to each other and traded moves and near falls. Styles caught him rebounding off the ropes with a beautiful dropkick. Styles went to rebound off the ropes but was tripped up by Corbin and yanked out to the floor.
Corbin hit the ring but was maneuvered into the corner by Dillinger, who began beating him with fists. Corbin shoved him off and Dillinger was caught on the top rope. Styles intercepted Corbin and they exchanged blows. Corbin measured and kicked Styles hard in the ribs. Dillinger returned to the apron but was kicked off by Corbin. Corbin continued to control the ring, stomping Styles, who was trapped in the corner. He hit a big Beel toss across the ring.
Dillinger returned to the ring and nailed Corbin. He monkeyflipped Styles, who landed on his feet and drilled Dillinger, who was sent into the corner. Styles charged Corbin who tossed him up into the air, where he crashed down on Dillinger. Corbin whippd Styles into the ringpost, which he struck with his ribs. Dillinger was worked over by Corbin, who controlled him and shut down any attempt to build momentum. Corbin went to the floor where Styles battled with him. Corbin whipped Styles hard into the barricade.
Corbin returned to the ring, where he exchanged chops with Dillinger. He continued to control the ring, even snapping Styles with an uppercut as he attempted to return to the fray with the Phenomenal Forearm. Corbin kicked and stomped away at Dillinger, then dumped him to the floor. Styles and Corbin exchanged punches with Styles trying to kick and punch Corbin down. Corbin went for a move but Styles escaped from his shoulders and nailed an enziguiri. He set up for the Styles Clash but Corbin backdropped him over the top to the apron. Styles was able to send Corbin to floor.
Dillinger returned and you could see the crowd getting behind him as he worked over Styles and nailed him with punches in the corner. He warded off Corbin and went for a superplex but Styles nailed him and snapped him into the buckles. They went back and forth until Dillinger scored a two count. Styles went for the Styles Clash but Dillinger avoided it. Styles locked in the Calf Killer but Corbin grabbed Dillinger and dragged him to the outside of the ring, not wanting to lost his opportunity. Styles nailed a diving forearm over the top to the floor on Corbin.
The battle continued witrh some really good action. Corbin caught Styles on the top and elevated him from the chokeslam position into a backbreaker. Corbin nailed running clotheslines on both Styles and Dillinger in opposite corners. Styles and Dillinger battled back, then each other. Styles nailed the Pele Kick on Dillinger, who crashed atop a prone Corbin for a close two call that the crowd really reacted to. Dillinger nailed Styles with forearms. He was knocked to the floor by Corbin, who Styles drilled and hit with a springboard 450 splash. Styles scored a two count but was prevented from getting the win by Dillinger breaking up the pinfall.
Styles and Dillinger battled back and forth. Tye was nailed with the Phenomenal Forearm but Corbin kicked Styles out of the ring and covered Dillinger to win the championship.
Your winner and new WWE United States champion, Baron Corbin!
They took their time with this and built slowly to the point that fans were believing that anyone could get the win. AJ Styles was so smooth here, it was ridiculous. They did a nice job of building Dillinger here as a legit player with his near falls while also protecting Styles from losing.
Coverage continues on Page 3!
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!