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Last week, AJ Styles lost to Sami Zayn when Shane McMahon attacked Kevin Owens during the match. Now AJ has to face both Sami and Kevin at the Royal Rumble.
We are in Birmingham, Alabama and your announcers are Corey Graves, Tom Phillips, and Byron Saxton.
Renee Young is in the ring and she brings out AJ Styles.
Renee asks AJ about Daniel Bryan's decision for the WWE Title match at The Royal Rumble and whether it was fair. AJ says every time he steps foot in this ring, he takes pride in what he does. AJ says he makes mistakes and he is human. If he thought Daniel would have taken him seriously he would not have said what he said. AJ says he was sarcastic. AJ says there is a chance he could lose the title. Is there a chance he could beat the crap out of Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens, you bet. His plan is to hit them hard and hit them fast so he has the advantage. The longer the match, the better their chances to win.
Renee asks AJ again if he thought the decision was fair. AJ says it was not fair. Neither is life. Kevin and Sami have non-title victories over them. It does not mean they have a shot at the title. He will fight them separately in the same night. It is not smart to do it on Smackdown.
Renee asks if Daniel is playing favorites with Sami and Kevin. AJ says a few people believe it, but he does not know what Daniel's deal is. He does not know what Daniel is thinking.
AJ is asked if he thinks Shane is playing favorites. AJ says he does not want to be put in the middle of the Shane and Daniel situation since he is already in the middle of the situation with Sami and Kevin. AJ says he cannot let those idiots win the title. AJ says that if he can beat Kevin and Sami in the same match in the same night, there will be no doubt. . .
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn make their way to the stage.
Kevin asks AJ if they should call him the regretful AJ Styles or the remorseful AJ Styles or the AJ Styles who put his foot in his mouth last week and he is doing everything possible to back track. Sami gives a YEP. Kevin says it will be a miracle to win when it is one versus two. Kevin says heaven does not give miracles to people like AJ. You have no chance of walking out of the handicap match with that title. Sami with a YEP. Kevin says when it is all said and done, at the end of the night, they will be the first ever Co-WWE Champions. Sami with another YEP. Kevin says they will turn the House that AJ Styles built into the Kevin and Sami Show or the Sami and Kevin Show. Kevin says they will do whatever they want to do and they let out a series of YEPs.
Shane McMahon makes his way onto the stage. Shane says he has to go with the champion. Is it fair he has to defend the title in a handicap match. He says nope. Shane wonders why would Daniel Bryan make that decision in the first place. Why would Daniel give Sami or Kevin another chance to become champion. Shane says he backs the decision to have the match at the Royal Rumble for now.
Speaking of handicap matches, how about doing one of those tonight. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn can face Shinsuke Nakamura, Randy Orton, and AJ Styles.
Shane walks into the Gorilla Position and Daniel is waiting for him. Daniel says that Shane is puzzled but Shane made a hell of a main event for tonight. They shake hands and Shane walks away.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Becky says that Ruby is going to get burnt tonight. Becky says she will be the last woman from Smackdown to enter the match and she will be the last woman standing.
Match Number One: Ruby Riott (with Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan) versus Becky Lynch (with Charlotte Flair and Naomi)
Becky with a hip lock take down and waist lock take downs. Becky with a front face lock but Ruby gets to the ropes. Becky pulls Ruby from the ropes and Sarah tries to trip Becky but the interference does not work and Ruby is sent to the floor.
Becky holds the ropes open for Ruby but she stays on the floor. Becky goes to the apron and hits a running forearm to take Ruby down. Ruby is returned to the ring and Becky stays on the floor to avoid an elbow drop. Becky with a dragon screw leg whip followed by arm drags and a flying forearm. Becky gets a near fall. Becky with an arm bar. Ruby misses a forearm in the corner but she kicks Becky. Ruby with more kicks and a snap mare.
Ruby with a seated abdominal stretch on Becky. Becky gets back to her feet and she punches Ruby. Becky with an Irish whip and ruby tries to float over but Becky catches Ruby. Ruby sends Becky into the turnbuckles and then the ring post. Ruby wraps Becky in the ropes and she punches Becky in the ribs. Ruby with a waist lock. Ruby turns it into a body scissors. Ruby rolls over and gets a near fall.
Ruby gets another near fall. Ruby squeezes as she continues to wear down Becky. Becky leans back and gets a near fall. Becky with an elbow and Ruby misses a splash into the corner. Becky with a springboard side kick but Ruby sends Becky to the mat and gets a near fall. Ruby with a knee to the ribs. Ruby with an abdominal stretch. Becky with a hip lock take down. Ruby goes for a suplex but Becky counters with an inside cradle. Becky with forearms and a European uppercut. Becky with a spinning back heel kick followed by a wrist clutch suplex and an exploder.
Becky misses a knee and Ruby with kicks to the ribs. Becky counters into DisArmHer and Ruby taps out.
Winner: Becky Lynch
We see footage of Becky Lynch finding out that Sami Zayn is her partner in the Mixed Match Challenge.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we see how Fandango and Tyler Breeze will not be in the Ascension's corner tonight because they have a match against Rusev Day.
Match Number Two: Konor and Viktor versus Luke Harper and Erick Rowan
Konor and Viktor attack Harper. Harper with a clothesline to Viktor and then he kicks Konor off the apron. Harper Irish whips Rowan into Viktor and they hit the assisted sit out power bomb for the three count.
Winners: Luke Harper and Erick Rowan
After the match, Viktor checks on his partner but Harper and Rowan attack Viktor and hit the T Gimmick on Viktor.
The announcers discuss the situation with Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin and last week's tag title match.
Bobby Roode makes his way to the ring to join the announcers to watch the next match since he will be facing the winner in the second round of the United States Title Tournament.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Zack Ryder versus Mojo Rawley in a First Round Match in the United States Title Tournament
They lock up and Rawley sends Ryder into the corner and Ryder with a drop kick for a near fall. Rawley goes to the floor and then he runs Zack into the corner and hits a shoulder. Ryder with knees to Rawley from the turnbuckles but Rawley pulls Ryder to the mat. Rawley slams Ryder's head into the mat and slaps him. Rawley gets a near fall. Rawley sends Ryder into the turnbuckles and then to the mat. Rawley works on the neck. Ryder with a punch but Rawley with a knee to the midsection.
Rawley goes for a suplex but Ryder lands on his feet and hits a neck breaker. Ryder with a knee to Rawley followed by a forearm. Ryder with a boot and running forearm into the corner. Ryder sets for the Broski Boot but Rawley goes to the floor to avoid it. Ryder with a boot through the ropes. Ryder gets a near fall. Ryder with a chop and then he punches Rawley but Rawley with a reverse atomic drop and then he sends Ryder shoulder first into the post. Rawley with a running forearm to teh back of the head and then a running forearm to the temple for the three count.
Winner: Mojo Rawley (advances to face Bobby Roode in the second round)
After the match, Roode enters the ring and he gets in Mojo's face.
Mojo leaves the ring and Roode poses.
Jinder Mahal says 2017 was defined by Jinder Mahal. For 185 days, he was your WWE Champion. No one thought it was possible and no one thought he was deserving. In 2018, he has a new prize in his sights, the US Championship. He says he hopes Xavier knows how to play Taps on his trombone because he will lose. The New Day is a fad while the Modern Day Maharaja is forever.
Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin walk in the back as we go to commercial.
Coverage Continues on Next Page
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