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The Road To WrestleMania starts in just three short weeks when the Royal Rumble takes place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 28th.
As the WWE Superstars prepare for this big night, the SmackDown Live roster headed to Mobile, Alabama for a WWE Live event.
The main event for the Rumble on the SmackDown side was set last week when AJ Styles will have to defend his WWE Championship in a 2-on-1 handicap match against Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Styles is the latest victim to get sucked up in the drama that has been brewing between Commissioner Shane McMahon and General Manager Daniel Bryan.
On Sunday evening, the WWE Universe in Mobile was treated to a total of eight matches. Of those eight matches, there were three championship matches.
Continue on to see the results from this WWE Live event!
Match #1 - The Usos v. Rusev Day v. New Day v. Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships
The evening in Mobile kicked off with a championship match. It wasn't just any championship match, The Usos had to defend their championships in a Fatal-4-Way like they did at Clash Of Champions against New Day, Rusev Day, and Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable.
The tag division on SmackDown Live has been jumbled as of late with several teams laying claim to the Usos' titles. Gable & Benjamin becoming the clear #1 contender cleared up some confusion last week, but a controversial finish in the match last week threw a wrench in that clarity.
Just like at Clash Of Champions, The Usos defied the odds and were able to leave Alabama still the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions.
Result - The Usos d. Rusev Day, New Day, and Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable to retain the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships.
Match #2 - Baron Corbin v. Bobby Roode
A couple of heavyweights who have recently feuded over the WWE United States Championship were up next when the "Glorious" Bobby Roode took on the "Lone Wolf" Baron Corbin.
Currently, there is a single-elimination tournament to determine the next US champ after Dolph Ziggler relinquished the strap. Roode defeated Corbin in the first round to move on, and the result was just as glorious in Mobile in this match.
Result - Bobby Roode d. Baron Corbin
Match #3 - Mojo Rawley v. Sin Cara
The new attitude of Mojo Rawley was on display for the WWE Universe in Mobile Sunday night when he faced Sin Cara.
Last month, after another loss for the Hype Bros., Mojo finally snapped and turned on his longtime tag partner Zack Ryder. They would have a good match during the Kickoff Show at Clash Of Champions; which Mojo would win.
Mojo also faces Ryder this week on SmackDown Live in the first round of the United States Championship Tournament. In Mobile, Rawley continued his momentum by dispatching of Sin Cara.
Result - Mojo Rawley d. Sin Cara
Match #4 - Breezango v. The Bludgeon Brothers
Harper and Rowan returned to the WWE in November under the moniker The Bludgeon Brothers, and they have decimated tag teams left and right since returning.
With a little help from their "friends" The Ascension, Breezango has been battling Harper and Rowan over the past few weeks with little success. On Sunday evening, their luck wouldn't change.
I wonder when The Ascension will actually take these guys on instead of volunteering Breezango to the slaughter.
Result - The Bludgeon Brothers d. Breezango
Match #5 - Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan (w/ Sarah Logan) v. Naomi & Becky Lynch
On November 21st, Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, and Sarah Logan debuted in a similar fashion as Absolution did the night before. Though the Riott Squad has not been as dominant as their Absolution counterparts, they have made a name for themselves on the blue brand.
On Sunday evening, Riott and Morgan would team up to take on Naomi and a returning Becky Lynch. Both Naomi and Lynch were the first two attacked by the Riott Squad when they debuted, putting both on the shelf for a few weeks.
On this night the "Glow Fire" got their revenge on the Riott Squad.
Result - Naomi & Becky Lynch d. The Riott Squad
Match #6 - Shinsuke Nakamura v. Jinder Mahal
This past summer saw Shinsuke Nakamura feuding with Jinder Mahal and The Singh Brothers as he tried to capture his first ever WWE Championship. Though Nakamura came up short at SummerSlam and Hell In A Cell, the future looks bright for The Artist in 2018.
Since losing the WWE Championship to AJ Styles in November, Jinder has rebounded nicely with a first-round victory over Tye Dillinger in the WWE United States Championship Tournament; where he'll face Xavier Woods of the New Day in the second round.
Jinder's momentum was stopped in Mobile, however, as on this night, Nakamura was able to come out on top. It'll be interesting to see if this loss carries over to a potential upset loss to Woods in the tournament.
Result - Shinsuke Nakamura d. Jinder Mahal
Match #7 - Charlotte Flair v. Carmella v. Natalya v. Tamina for the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship
The second-to-last match of the evening was the second of three title matches when "The Queen" Charlotte Flair graced the WWE Universe in Mobile with her presence. She would defend the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship in a Fatal-4-Way match against Tamina, Natalya, and Miss Money In The Bank, Carmella.
The odds were stacked against Charlotte in Mobile, but she was able to come out on top and keep her WWE SmackDown Women's Championship. One has to wonder when Carmella will cash in her briefcase though...
Result - Charlotte Flair d. Natalya, Tamina, & Carmella to retain the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship
Match #8 - AJ Styles v. Kevin Owens v. Sami Zayn for the WWE Championship
It's main event time in Mobile and the WWE Championship is on the line. Just like the two previous championship matches of the evening, AJ Styles had to face more than one competitor to try to retain.
As mentioned in the open, Styles is now in the middle of the drama involving Shane McMahon, Daniel Bryan, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn. The timing couldn't be any worse either with AJ as the champion.
Last week's SmackDown saw a rather odd decision by General Manager Daniel Bryan when he announced that AJ Styles will have to defend his WWE Championship against Owens and Zayn in a handicap match.
While the main event in Mobile wasn't officially a handicap match, I think the WWE Universe knew better that it was going to turn into it. Thankfully for the Phenomenal One, Styles was able to hold onto his title.
Result - AJ Styles d. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn to retain the WWE Championship
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