WWE superstar AJ Styles is widely recognized as one of the top talents on the WWE roster. At the 2017 Royal Rumble Styles faced off against WWE legend John Cena, and the match was widely credited as one of the best wrestling matches of the year. This year Cena will compete in the battle royal but WWE champion Styles will feature in another massive championship bout.
AJ Styles to face Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens at the 2018 Royal Rumble
As reported on the official WWE website Styles will defend the WWE Championship against Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens.
Styles was less than happy after last week's "SmackDown Live" match against Zayn. The Phenomenal One was well on top of Zayn before interference by Kevin Owens, Shane McMahon, and Daniel Bryan. A distracted Styles lost to Zayn, and as reported by The Sun, a frustrated Styles stated that he might just as well face both Zayn and Owen's in a handicap match.
It isn't clear if Styles was actually issuing a challenge, but in any event, he got his wish. WWE has announced that Styles will meet both Zayn and Owens in a handicap match at this month's "Royal Rumble" PPV.
How will AJ Styles react on tonight's 'SmackDown Live?'
Later today WWE "SmackDown Live" rolls into Birmingham, Alabama, and wrestling fans will be watching to see how AJ Styles reacts to the news of his Royal Rumble opponents, especially after Owens and Zayn took to Twitter to claim that they are finally getting a "fair opportunity."
It is interesting that Owens and Zayn feel that they have not been treated fairly by the WWE.
AJ Styles may well feel exactly the same. Few would deny that Styles is the best wrestler on the WWE roster, he took "SmackDown Live" by storm after making his main roster debut at the 2016 Royal Rumble.
Throughout 2016 Styles carried the Blue Brand almost single-handedly, largely due to John Cena's absence through injury and movie commitments.
As history has shown, Styles reward was to lose his championship to Cena at the 2017 "Royal Rumble." To add insult to injury, Styles was kept out of the WWE title picture for most of 2017. Styles also had to watch Jinder Mahal shoot into the title picture within weeks of being re-signed by WWE.
Styles eventually gained his opportunity to claim the WWE Championship when he beat Mahal on the weekly "SmackDown" show on November, 7, the first time that the WWE title changed hands, outside of a PPV event, for over a decade.
Styles is clearly in no mood to relinquish his title and has made it clear that he intends to be defending the WWE Championship at "WrestleMania 34" this April.
It's difficult to see AJ Styles losing his title at this year's "Royal Rumble". Styles seems set for a long run as champion, and the feud between Styles, Owens, and Zayn has only just begun. There is plenty of time for sparks to fly between the trio before "WrestleMania 34" comes around. Hopefully, we will see some of those sparks on tonights "SmackDown Live."