The 2018 Royal Rumble opens with a lengthy video package. We go live to the arena in Philadelphia and the fans are in fine voice as Sami Zayn’s music hits. Owens comes out scond, followed by the Champion, AJ Styles, who also makes his way to the ring.
WWE Championship Match
2-On-1 Handicap Match
(C) AJ Styles Vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
The match begins and Kevin Owens starts the match against Styles, with Sami on the apron. The two look to lock-up but Owens turns and tags Sami right away. Zayn circles Styles and readies to tie-up but he also turns and tags out. Owens and Styles again look to lock-up but this time AJ kicks him in the gut, then punches Owens and sends him to the ropes but KO holds the ropes, then walks over and tags Sami back in.
Sami and AJ tie-up and AJ quickly looks for a small package but Zayn kicks out and runs to the corner to tag KO back in. Syles takes Owens’ back but KO scoops AJ’s leg to break free. Owens and AJ square-up, then Owens rolls from the ring, runs around the side and slides back in and tags Sami while still lying on his stomach. The fans laughed at that one. Zayn grabs AJ in a headlock and tries to ground him. Styles sends Sami to the ropes, leapfrog, drop down, then a dropkick and Sami tags out. Owens comes in and distracts the referee for a second before shoving AJ to the corner and pummelling him with punches. Owens takes the brawl to his corner and tags Zayn in, who continues the beating in the corner.
Zayn chops AJ’s chest, but AJ returns to the favour. AJ hits the ropes but Sami catches him with a big back body drop for the first pin attempt, failed mind you. Owens is back in the match and he fires AJ into the corner with velocity. Owens unleashes some ground and pound on AJ before kicking the Champ from the ring and tossing him into the barricade. Back inside the ring, Sami tags in and ground AJ with a rear chin lock. AJ fights up and out but Owens tags in and turns it back around. AJ rocks Owens and drops Sami as well. AJ unloads on Owens now. Owens runs into a boot in the corner. Owens gets AJ in the Electric Chair, slamming him face first into the mat for a 2 count. Owens argues with the referee and goes right to AJ to keep him grounded on the mat.
Owens slams AJ again and tells him to stay down. Owens goes for the corner cannonball but AJ moves. Sami tags in as Owens clutches his ankle. Sami takes AJ to the corner but AJ stops a tornado DDT. AJ climbs up and rocks Sami on top. AJ brings Sami to the mat with a big hurricanrana. AJ is slow to get up as Sami crawls for a tag. Owens comes in but AJ nails a pele kick and Owens goes down. Sami tags in and goes for a Helluva Kick but AJ boots him. AJ goes for a moonsault but has to land on his feet, turning it into an inverted DDT.
Sami crawls and tags in Owens again. AJ rocks Owens as he charges into the corner. Sami runs in next but AJ hits him as well. AJ takes out Sami as Owens sends him that way. Sami is sent out. AJ ends up rolling Owens into the Calf Crusher as fans pop. AJ pulls back and tightens the hold in the middle of the ring. Sami runs in and breaks it up as fans boo. AJ unloads with strikes and drops Sami. Sami gets sent to the floor again. AJ ad Owens go at it for a quick 2 count. AJ sends Owens into the ring post. Sami runs in for a Blue Thunderbomb but AJ blocks it. Owens assists with a superkick from the apron while Sami has the referee distracted, allowing Sami to hit the Blue Thunderbomb for a close 2 count.
Fans chant for AJ as Sami gets up first. Sami with a chop and a slap in the corner as the referee warns him. Sami takes AJ to the top and rocks him. Sami climbs up for a superplex but AJ slides down and sends Sami face first into the turnbuckle. Sami sends AJ to the apron. Owens charges and AJ drops him. AJ springboards in and hits the Phenomenal Forearm on Sami but Owens runs in and breaks the pin up. AJ gets up first and turns to Sami for a forearm.Sami swings back. AJ rocks him. Sami fights back as they trade shots in the middle of the ring now. AJ hits two straight forearms. AJ ducks a shot and picks Sami up – Zayn is millimetres from making the tag to Owens but can’t reach.
Styles runs with Zayn up and throws him out to the floor again. Owens runs in and hits a superkick. Then tosses AJ to the ropes but AJ counters the Pop-up Powerbomb and rolls-up Owens for the win to retain!
Winner: AJ Styles
After the match, Styles stands tall with the title as we go to replays. AJ stands tall with his arm raised as Sami and Owens look on from the ramp. AJ raises the title and looks up at the WrestleMania 34 sign. Sami and Owens head to the back, clearly unhappy because the tag was never made!
