SmackDown: Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens defeated in handicap match
Wednesday 10 January 2018 07:19, UK
Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens were on the wrong end of a handicap match as their Royal Rumble momentum took a hit on SmackDown.
The 'Yep' movement pair will face WWE Champion AJ Styles in a two-on-one handicap match at the January 28 pay-per-view, and kicked off the show by saying they want to be considered co-champions if they win.
SmackDown commissioner Shane McMahon challenged Daniel Bryan's sense of fairness in another tense moment between the two, and arranged for Zayn and Owens to face a handicap match of their own, against Styles, Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura.
The trio quickly established control but could only watch as their opponents decided to leave the ring and take the countout defeat on the chin. McMahon, however, arrived on the ramp and declared the match would restart under "no countout" rules.
Owens then attacked Orton and Nakamura with a chair, the referee signalling for the bell and a disqualification verdict.
Shane O Mac returned, and restarted the match as a "no countout, no disqualification, anything goes" match, and Styles immediately seized the initiative by using the chair on Owens.
Orton and Nakamura isolated Zayn at ringside before delivering a Kinshasa and an RKO for the victory.
Lynch victorious on return
Becky Lynch was seeking vengeance for her pre-Christmas beatdown at the hands of the Riott Squad, and got it in the form of a submission win over Ruby Riott.
The Lass Kicker countered a wristlock into a Dis-arm-her and Riott had no option but to tap out.
After the match, Riott issued a challenge to Lynch, Charlotte Flair and Naomi to face the Riott Squad in a match next week.
Rawley advances to next stage
Mojo Rawley and Zack Ryder's mutual dislike had an added edge this week, with their match on SmackDown serving as a first-round contest in the United States title tournament.
With Bobby Roode watching at ringside, Rawley was again in a hard-hitting mood and secured the win with a running punch in the corner.
Roode then entered the ring for a Glorious staredown with Rawley, who he will now face in the tournament semi-finals.
