Wrestling Junkie Staff
January 28, 2023 11:34 pm ET
After an interlude for Hardy to perform after the Women’s Royal Rumble match, all that remained was the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match between titleholder Roman Reigns and challenger Kevin Owens.
The intrigue for this one got ramped up a bit during the Royal Rumble pre-show, when Reigns questioned Sami Zayn about why he disobeyed a direct order on SmackDown and showed up in the arena. Jey Uso explained that he was the one who asked for Zayn’s help, and that Sami came through for the family.
As a result, Reigns told Zayn that he would be with him until the end of the night, “at my hip” for his battle against KO. Would that play a role in the outcome of the match? We’d soon find out.
After the ring intros, Reigns audibly yelled that he would teach Owens a lesson tonight, while a loud “Sami Uso” chant rang out. KO knocked the champ down with a high elbow and followed with a senton before stomping away in the corner and delivering a cannonball.
Reigns sought a reprieve on the floor but found none, with Owens hitting another senton and retaining control of the action back in the ring. Reigns finally got a breather after a hard Irish whip of his foe into the corner. A Rock Bottom of sorts got Reigns a near fall.
With Zayn clapping for him, Reigns hit his drive-by kick and covered for two again. Roman brought the action to the mat, slowing the pace to his liking and then smacking home a thunderous uppercut.
Owens continued to take heavy blows in the corner but fought back with some of his own in the center of the ring. He took a big boot but responded with a clothesline, still trying to chop the champ down to size.
An emphatic splash on the floor had Owens back in charge and calling Reigns “a manipulative piece of crap.” But Reigns was simply biding his time, striking with a sitout powerbomb for a near fall.
Owens countered a Superman punch attempt with a German suplex, but the second Superman punch hit him and forced another kickout. Reigns signaled for the spear but missed and crashed hard into the post. KO was on target with a Swanton Bomb, but Reigns managed to kick out again at two.
A battle on the top turnbuckle led to Reigns hitting the canvas, and after a botched move of some sort, Owens also missed a moonsault. Reigns connected on a spear, which was only good for another near fall.
Looking for another spear, Reigns are a knee and the ref ended up taking a hard bump. Owens hit a Popup Powerbomb but found no referee to make what definitely would have been a three count. With the ref still out, Reigns hit a big low blow, and Reigns asked Zayn to get a steel chair.
Zayn grabbed a chair from beneath the ring but appeared to hesitate. That gave KO time to hit a Stunner, one that barely allowed Reigns to kick out.
Countering a Popup Powerbomb, Reigns hit a Superman punch and a spear. Somehow, Owens kicked out again, leaving the champ in disbelief and KO crawling over toward Zayn, who implored his longtime friend to stay down.
Instead, Owens took a spear through the barricade and rolled him back in the ring, only to see KO roll right back out the other side. That got him slammed hard into the steel steps, causing Zayn to cover his mouth in shock. Reigns did it again for good measure, then rolled Owens back into the ring.
With Paul Heyman telling Zayn to acknowledge his Tribal Chief, Zayn threw one finger in the air. Reigns hit another spear and covered for three, then took some time to stare at Zayn before reclaiming his belts from the official.
The Usos beat on KO after the bell, reveling in hitting a 1-D. Putting a chair around Owens’ neck, they gave Solo Sikoa room to hit a vicious hip attack.
Paul Heyman then produced handcuffs, and the Usos delivered a series of superkicks with KO cuffed to the top rope. Reigns admonished Owens for trying to change Zayn’s mind, but Sami stepped in the way of a steel chair shot, saying this was beneath Reigns’ position as Tribal Chief.
Reigns handed the chair to Zayn instead, saying “you should do it.” Yelling even more, Reigns ordered Sami to “pull the trigger,” then got made fun of for crying. Instead, Zayn hit Reigns, getting him an immediate superkick from Jimmy Uso as Roman had his face in his hands.
Sikoa hit Zayn with a Samoan Spike as Jimmy Uso rejoined the assault. Jey Uso, however, decided to walk out on the attack. Reigns wore out Zayn with the chair as the fans began to chant “f–k you, Roman.” The champ tore up one of the Bloodline leis and sprinkled the petals over Zayn and KO before Jimmy Uso gave Owens one more superkick.
Jimmy left the ring holding Zayn’s Honorary Uce shirt, which was torn from Sami during the attack — one last bit of drama in one heck of a roller coaster ride of emotions.
