#1 Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles on SmackDown Live (Winner advances to the main event at WrestleMania 33)
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This matchup is one that most of the WWE Universe has been dreaming of for over a decade.
The match was forced to take place when last week on SmackDown, Styles won a #1 contender’s match to main event WrestleMania and Orton also announced his plan to go after Bray Wyatt’s title at Mania after weeks of joining forces with Bray.
Orton, the Royal Rumble winner, had Daniel Bryan’s blessing, and Styles, the #1 contender match winner, had Shane McMahon’s blessing, so the GM and Commissioner decided to have “The Phenomenal One” face off against “The Viper” to determine the true #1 contender for the WWE Title.
And the match that was billed as the “greatest main event in SmackDown history” did not disappoint.
Orton and Styles went back and forth for the majority of the match, with both Superstars displaying their classic offence (Orton's stomps and the Superplex he got from his dad and Styles with his Calf Crusher and Fireman’s Carry Neckbreaker).
However, it was the final minute of this match that made it special. Orton blocked Styles’ first attempt at The Phenomenal Forearm by sending him crashing down from the ropes and hit his patented Rope-Hung DDT on Styles, setting him up for an RKO.
However, when Orton went for his finisher, Styles slipped away and nailed Orton with a Pele Kick to the back of the head. Orton stumbled to the corner and countered Styles’ attempt at a forearm in the turnbuckle by sending him to the apron.
However, Styles would then hit a forearm on Orton and set him up for his finisher, The Phenomenal Forearm.
Being the wily vet Styles is, he knew Orton would most likely be laying in wait to counter Styles’ finisher into an RKO, so AJ faked out Orton by jumping on the ropes to springboard, but instead of finishing the move, just went back down to the apron.
Indeed, Orton pounced and attempted an RKO, but had been out-smarted by Styles, or so we thought. After Orton hit the mat hard on his RKO attempt, Styles finally had Orton in position to hit The Phenomenal Forearm.
When he went for the move, though, Orton moved out of the way. Styles landed on his feet then came at Orton, Orton tossed Styles in the air and hit a Pop-Up RKO for the victory in what was truly one of the greatest finishes in recent wrestling history.
Now “The Viper” moves on to WrestleMania 33 to face his former friend and mentor, Bray Wyatt, for the WWE Championship.
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