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AJ Styles has had an interesting three Royal Rumbles. He debuted in 2016, he was the defending WWE champion in 2017 and he is once again defending the WWE title in 2018.
This time around, his WWE title reign is in jeopardy at the hands of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in a handicap match. Apart from these three competitors, the story has been centred around Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan not being able to accept each other's decisions nor get along anymore.
However, many wonder what the outcome to this interesting handicap is going to be. Will AJ Styles retain the WWE Championship and march on to WrestleMania with the title still around his waist, or will Sami & Kevin(or as Styles calls them - Kami) be able to walk out of Royal Rumble as co-champions?
Here are five interesting ways in which the match can end:
#5 AJ Styles retains in a clean bout
While it's the most obvious one, it's undeniable that it's the most likely scenario. Styles is the babyface who's been unnecessarily involved in complications between four people and had all the odds stacked up against him.
With Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn seemingly coming out victorious week after week after week, it would make sense that Styles finally gets his comeuppance at the Royal Rumble when he defeats them both in fair and square fashion.
That being said, don't expect a match without shenanigans in some form. Even if Styles does win, it's definitely going to involve chaos in some form or fashion.
#4 - Sami Zayn pins AJ Styles and Kami become co-WWE Champions
Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens have been wonderful together since pairing again in 2017. While there is the question as to who would pin Styles if they won and who would actually become champion, the two do seem to be on the same page.
It doesn't seem like WWE is going to end the pairing anytime soon, so it's highly possible that Sami Zayn could pin AJ Styles and become WWE Champion. In the process, he would become co-WWE Champions with Kevin Owens just like the duo promised. That however, leaves a big question mark for the WrestleMania 34 WWE title match.
#3 - Kevin Owens pins AJ Styles but doesn't share the championship
Kevin Owens has pinned AJ Styles a few times in 2017. He'll look to get the pinfall in the title match, and if he does, will he keep his promise to share the title with Sami Zayn?
Kevin Owens being Kevin Owens might just pull off a fast one and then reveal to Sami that it was all a ploy for him to move up, refusing to share the championship with Zayn.
This would set up a WrestleMania title match right then and there. However, the downside is that it would be a premature end to a good pairing. Now what would be better is the duo staying together well until 2019 and then blowing their long story off, perhaps with a WrestleMania main event.
You know that when these two do eventually meet on the grandest stage of them all, it should be in the biggest match and story possible.
#2 - Shane McMahon & Daniel Bryan get involved - Scenario 1
As mentioned earlier, the story of the WWE Championship match has seemingly had more to do with people not even involved in the match. Bryan & Shane's tensions could very much see them both coming out to make sure all's fair.
The problem is, Bryan comes across as pro-Owens and Zayn while Shane is the complete opposite. This option is very likely and would possibly lead to an overbooked finish.
One way is to have all the chaos between the GM and commissioner help AJ overcome the odds against KO & Zayn
#1 Shane McMahon & Daniel Bryan get involved - Scenario 2
One thing about Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan is that no matter how much they try to get involved in matters and try to make it better, it only ends up getting worse.
It won't be surprising in the least to see Bryan & Shane's involvement once again costing Styles. This time, it's going to be at a far greater cost. However, with this finish, there are a few possibilities.
It could set up a Daniel Bryan heel turn(which wouldn't be the wisest move by WWE) or even set up a Shane McMahon heel turn. Since Bryan is now the third favourite to win the Royal Rumble match, it's possible that seeds will be planted for his in-ring return.
Whether it's a match against Shane McMahon, whether it's up against Sami & Kevin, the possibilities are innumerable. However, if Styles is to lose the title by a screwy finish, WWE needs to set up something great to cater to fan expectations.
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