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The Royal Rumble go-home show of SmackDown Live certainly was interesting, with AJ Styles being put up against the odds, Shinsuke Nakamura renewing an old rivalry, Chad Gable had a breakout performance, and more!
Kevin & Sami make a big challenge to AJ Styles
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn opened the show, saying that the crowd is looking at the future and not washed out old superstars. They went on about how they're going to be co-champions and how AJ Styles doesn't have any chance.
The crowd was hot for Styles, chanting his name when mentioned. The WWE Champion heard enough of the two, interrupting the duo. AJ Styles' simple response to them possibly beating him, hurting him and becoming co-champions? "Nope".
Owens said that he couldn't care less if AJ Styles didn't like the "Yep" movement. The duo and Styles had a back and forth verbal exchange, involving the catchphrases, heat generating.
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn challenged AJ to two back-to-back matches against them. Before Styles could say anything, Daniel Bryan's music hit. AJ Styles cut Bryan off before he could say anything, implying that Bryan is in cahoots with KO & Zayn. Bryan overall teased a big heel turn in this segmen
Before Bryan could make it official, AJ Styles accepted the back-to-back matches challenge.
Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan had a tense moment, with Shane questioning AJ wrestling in back to back matches. Bryan admitted that it was not what he was going to do. He said that AJ didn't have to prove anything days before the Rumble.
Bryan asked Shane if he was questioning AJ's ability. Shane said it wasn't AJ's ability he was questioning.
Jey Uso vs Chad Gable
Heading into their 2-out-of-3 falls match at Royal Rumble, each competitor looked to get momentum for their team. Chad Gable was in control in the early going, using his Greco-Roman style of wrestling to get the better of Jey.
Jey managed to send Gable flying out of the ring, getting the momentum to his side. After the commercial break, Gable had the momentum until he was sent outside the ring again. He caught Jey Uso before he could hit a suicide dive, but once Jey sent him outa gain, he landed the dive.
Jey Uso seemed to be catching his shoulder. When he ran to splash at Gable, he got caught and Gable hit a beautiful Northern Lights Suplex for the clean victory.
Chad Gable defeated Jey Uso
Shinsuke Nakamura was being interviewed backstage, where he said that any Royal Rumble competitor he comes across is going to get a knee to the face. Baron Corbin interrupted, saying that he doesn't care about the WWE Universe and that he gets results, which he will at the Rumble.
Nakamura simply responded "Let's rumble tonight" and went.
Tye Dillinger announced his entry to the Royal Rumble
Naomi vs Liv Morgan
The former SmackDown Women's Champion knocked Liv Morgan down and hit the sliding slap. Liv ducked beneath the ropes to prevent Naomi from getting any more offence in. Liv shoved Naomi into the turnbuckles and double stomped her back.
Soon as Liv got control, the other women of the roster came out. The finish of the match saw Naomi hit a sunset flip roll-up on Morgan for the win. Looked really bad.
Naomi defeated Liv Morgan
After the match, all the women got into a brawl and threw each other over the top ropes. It was Becky and Naomi who stood tall despite having a tense moment.
Charlotte came out and cut a bad promo, wishing luck to all the women and especially the winner.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs Baron Corbin
The crowd was red hot for Nakamura. The Artist Known As Shinsuke Nakamura hit the knee to the face early on, which he said is his Rumble strategy. He sent Corbin out and when he taunted him to come back in, Corbin walked away.
As Nakamura went out to get him back, he got punched in the throat and then got sent to the ring post. Corbin had the momentum after the break but Nakamura weathered the early storm thanks to some solid knee strikes.
A Kinshasa attempt was countered into a deep six, but it wasn't enough to put away The King Of Strong Style.
An End Of Days attempt was countered into an armbar. Ashe escaped, Nakamura ran for a Kinshasa, only to be met by an RKO out of nowhere!
Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Baron Corbin by DQ
That wasn't a heel turn, but Randy hit another RKO on Baron Corbin too. The place erupted and Randy Orton stood tall
Bobby Roode, Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods vs Jinder Mahal, Rusev & Aiden English
All three members of The New Day announced entry to the Royal Rumble match. Rusev had control on Kofi Kingston in the early going of the match.
Bobby Roode was tagged in and knocked Aiden English down. Jinder, not the legal man tried to come at Roode, only to be met by a spine buster.
Kofi took out both Rusev and Jinder outside. Xavier Woods finished things up with a flying elbow.
Bobby Roode & The New Day defeated Jinder Mahal & Rusev Day
AJ Styles vs Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens seemed to injure his leg during the match and Styles kept kicking his leg. He put him in a calf crusher and Owens tapped within seconds!
AJ Styles defeats Kevin Owens
AJ refused to let go of the calf crusher and Sami Zayn came in and broke things up, after which he began an assault on Styles.
AJ Styles vs Sami Zayn
Sami Zayn had complete control after the break, while Kevin Owens was ringside being tended to by doctors. AJ sent Sami outside and took him out before assaulting Owens once more.
Sami Zayn then hit AJ with a clothesline. Zayn had control for a while longer before the momentum shift via a hurricanrana from the top turnbuckle. A Helluva Kick attempt was met with a big boot to the face of Sami.
There were a bunch of near falls, primarily from Sami to AJ. Sami evaded a Styles Clash as well. AJ then knocked Kevin Owens off the stretcher, went back in the ring and met with a helluva kick followed by a blue thunder bomb. Sami beat AJ again.
Sami Zayn defeated AJ Styles
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