Welcome to SmackDown Live. The Men’s Royal Rumble winner Shinsuke Nakamura makes his way to the ring. Nakamura says at the Royal Rumble, Sami Zayn . . . knee to the face. John Cena . . . knee to the face. Roman Reigns . . . knee to the face. At Wrestlemania, AJ Styles . . . knee to the face. New WWE Champion.

Kevin Owens’ music plays and he makes his way to the ring with Sami Zayn.

Kevin says to give it up for the 2018 Royal Rumble winner. Kevin says you can point to that sign and say you are going to beat AJ Styles all you want, but they were screwed out of their title two nights ago. Sami says YEP. Kevin says they should be celebrating as Co-WWE Champion, but this happened.

We see photos of what happened at the end of the match when Kevin Owens did not make the tag but was pinned.

Kevin says they were once again victims of the vendetta constructed by Shane McMahon to hold them down. Sami says the referee has one job. You have one job, protect the integrity of the match at all costs. Kevin says YEP. Sami says that Kevin never tagged in. Kevin’s passion coupled with the incompetence of that referee got them into this situation. AJ Styles pinned the wrong man.

Kevin says that is why they have every right for an opportunity at the title. It will not be AJ Styles who Nakamura faces, it will be them. Sami jumps around and YEPs.

Nakamura says that AJ was the winner and you are losers.

Kevin and Sami prepare to corner Nakamura, but AJ’s music plays and he makes his way to the stage.

AJ says you can cry and complain all you want, but there will be a dream match in New Orleans on the grandest stage of them all. It will be between him and Shinsuke Nakamura. Right here, right now, in Philly, on the House that AJ Styles Built, AJ suggests they turn this dream match into a dream team and take on Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn tonight.

Kevin leaves the ring and so does Sami. Kevin say something to Sami and Sami says if you really want this match . . . NOPE!

Styles and Nakamura with forearms to knock Kevin and Sami off the apron.

We go to commercial.

Nakamura is in the locker room and AJ stops by and he asks if they want to discuss their game plan. Nakamura says he is going to win at Wrestlemania. AJ reminds Nakamura about their match tonight. Nakamura says he is going to beat AJ at Wrestlemania. AJ asks if Nakamura is messing with him and Nakamura says he is messing with him and he tells AJ to listen to him.

Match Number Five: Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn versus AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura

Owens and Styles start off and Kevin with a waist lock. Styles with a standing switch. Owens with a single leg trip but Styles with a head scissors and he tags in Zayn. Nakamura tags in. They lock up and Zayn with a wrist lock. Nakamura with a reversal and he rests his head against Zayn’s chest while Owens tells him not to do that stupid thing. Nakamura with a knee to the midsection and a knee drop. Nakamura with boots in the corner. Styles tags in and he punches Zayn. Zayn with a side head lock.

Styles with a Phenomenal Drop Kick and he keeps Sami from making the tag. Nakamura tags in and he punches Zayn. Owens tags in and he punches and kicks Nakamura in the corner. Zayn kicks Nakamura from the apron while Owens talks to the referee. Owens with a forearm and cross face. Nakamura is sent into the turnbuckles and Zayn tags in. Zayn with chops and punches followed by a kick. Owens tags in and he chops Nakamura. Owens with forearms and a kick to Nakamura. Nakamura with strikes to Owens followed by knees to the head.

Nakamura sends Zayn to the floor when he tries to interfere but Owens with a boot. Owens yells at Zayn and tells him to get back. Owens with a short arm clothesline for a near fall. Nakamura with forearms and Owens goes to the floor. Owens and Zayn argue over where they should be. Zayn starts to go up the ramp and he tells Kevin to see how long he will last without his guardian angel.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Owens with a reverse chin lock and Zayn is still on the stage. Owens with a forearm to the back and then he goes for a belly-to-back suplex but AJ lands on his feet. Styles with strikes and a clothesline followed by a sliding forearm. Styles with a clothesline into the corner and then he hits a sit out facebuster. Zayn breaks up the cover. Zayn tags in and he connects with crossfaces and punches. Sami with a chop and back body drop for a near fall. Owens wants Sami to make the tag and he does. Owens with a boot to the back followed by a back senton for a near fall.

Owens tags in Zayn by chopping him. Zayn chops Owens back to tag him in. Zayn and Owens continue to argue and Styles sends Owens into Zayn and gets a near fall with an O’Connor Roll. Owens with a kick. Zayn thinks Owens intentionally hit him so he goes to the back. Styles with a forearm but Owens catches Styles with a gutbuster followed by an elbow drop from the turnbuckles. Styles with a Pele Kick and he tags in Nakamura who hits a flying boot. Owens blocks a kick but Nakamura with the other foot. Nakamura with a knee into the corner and he puts Owens on the turnbuckles. Nakamura with a knee.

Owens goes to the floor when Nakamura sets for Kinshasa. Styles sends Owens back into the ring and Nakamura with a round kick and Kinshasa for the three count.

Winners: AJ Styles

After the match, Sami Zayn is asked if this is the end of their friendship. Sami says nope. This is about opportunities. Sami says it is his time to be champion. Next week, he will be known as the guy who beat Kevin Owens and after Fastlane, he will be known as the guy who is WWE Champion.

30-Man Royal Rumble Match: Roman Reigns, John Cena, Finn Balor, Randy Orton, Shinsuke Nakamura, Elias, Baron Corbin, Matt Hardy, Bray Wyatt, Aiden English, Rusev, Titus O’Neil, Apollo Crews, Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods, Tye Dillinger, WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz, TBA

Rusev is the first competitor followed by Finn Balor at number two. Rusev tried to eliminate Balor to start things off but Balor held on. Balor did the same thing. Rusev with a shoulder block but Balor landed a drop kick. Rhyno came in at #3 and went right after Rusev. Rhyno hit a spear in the corner then a front body suplex and same goes for Balor. There was an ECW chant going. Rusev hit Rhyno from behind to cut off the momentum and landed a heel kick. Baron Corbin was in at #4. And tossed Balor around the ring then hit a big boot to Rhyno. Corbin with a big clothesline to Rusev. Rhyno with a belly-to-belly suplex to Corbin then went for a GORE but Corbin hit Deep Six and tossed him to the floor. Balor tossed Corbin out after that.

Corbin pulled Balor under the rope and tossed him into the barricade then hit End of Days to Rusev on the floor. Balor and Rusev are STILL in the match. Heath Slater came in at #5. Corbin took out Slater with a clothesline as Slater made his entrance. Elias is #6 and he sang a song for us to kill some time. Andrade Almas came in at #7. Almas kicked Slater on the ramp then started brawling with Elias and landed a back elbow followed by running knees in the corner. Almas went for his finisher but Elias got out of it and hit a big clothesline. Bray Wyatt was #8 and sent Slater into the barricade then hit a powerslam to Elias. Balor attacked Wyatt from behind but Wyatt cut him off with a clothesline. Big E was #9 and gave Slater some pancakes. Elias hit a big boot to Big E but Big E was able to hit a suplex to him. Rusev with a head kick to Big E. Tye Dillinger came in at #10 but he never made it to the ring as Owens and Zayn beat him down in the backstage area. Zayn replaced Dillinger and got into the match by beating down Balor. Sheamus was out at #11 and tossed Slater in the ring but as soon as he did, Slater clotheslines Sheamus out of the ring for the elimination. Wyatt hit Slater with Sister Abigail and eliminated him. Xavier Woods was #12. Woods went right after Wyatt and attacked him. Woods and Big E hit a double team move to Zayn then to Elias. Apollo Crews was #13 and went right after Wyatt. Wyatt went for his finisher on Balor but Balor reversed and hit a double footstomp. Shinsuke Nakamura was #14 and hit Zayn with a kick then a series of strikes to Wyatt. Nakamura eliminated Zayn with a knee strike to the gut.

Cesaro was in at #15 and started hitting everyone with uppercuts. Kofi Kingston was in at #15 and he ran into an uppercut right out of the gate by Cesaro. Cesaro hit Crews with an uppercut to eliminate him. Jinder Mahal walked out at #17 and hit a suplex to Woods then a knee strike. Mahal would then eliminate Woods and Big E with a big boot. Seth Rollins walked out at #18 with new ring gear and hit a springboard forearm then a series of strikes to Balor. Cesar tried to eliminate Rollins but it was Rollins who eliminated Cesaro. Mahal tossed Kofi out but Kofi’s right foot landed on Woods then Big E put pancakes under Kofi’s foot. Kofi launched off Big E and Woods back into the ring. Kofi head kicked Mahal out of the ring. Almas hit his DDT finisher to Kofi to eliminate him. Matt Hardy came in at #19 and had a stare down with Wyatt. Rusev attacked him from behind. Hardy and Wyatt teamed up to eliminate Rusev. Hardy hit the side effect to Almas then started brawling with Wyatt that led to their eliminations at the same time. John Cena was out at #20 and everyone attacked him as soon as he got into the ring. Elias went for his finisher but Cena blocked and tossed Elias to the floor for the elimination. The Hurricane came out at #21 and went right to Cena, who tossed him to the floor immediately. Aiden English was #22 and Adam Cole was #23. Cole had his ribs taped up but went on a kicking part to Balor and English. Balor kicked English off the top rope for the elimination. Randy Orton was #24 and hit a series of suplexes to Cole then went for an RKO to Cena but it was blocked. Almas went for a springboard dive but Orton caught him with an RKO out of nowhere then tossed Almas to the floor. Titus O’Neil was #25 and there was no reaction for him from the crowd. The Miz came out at #26 and hit Rollins with a neck breaker then got out of the AA and hit a DDT to Cena. T

he Miz hit Skull Crushing Finale to Cena then Rollins with a superkick to Miz. Rey Mysterio came out at #27 and hit a hurricanrana to Miz then sent Cole to the floor. Rey hit the 619 to Miz. Roman Reigns was #28 and hit Cena and Balor with right hands. He took out everyone. Reigns with a series of clotheslines to Miz. Reigns eliminated Titus. Reigns tried to do the same thing to Miz but was saved by Axel and Dallas. Rollins hit the Blackout to Miz then Reigns and Rollins powerbombed Miz out of the ring onto Axel and Dallas. Reigns then eliminated Rollins. Goldust was #29 and hit a series of strikes to Orton. Dolph Ziggler was #30 and went right after Cena. Ziggler with a super kick to Cena then Orton. Goldust cut him off with a slam but Ziggler managed to super kick him out of the ring. Ziggler with a Zig Zag to Nakamura. Moments later, Balor took out Ziggler with a forearm shot. We are down to six – Balor, Orton, Cena, Rey, Reigns, and Nakamura. They all start brawling. Cena with an AA to Balor while Rey hit the 619 to Reigns. Orton hit the RKO to Nakamura. Reigns with a superman punch to Orton for the elimination. Rey went for a 619 to Cena and Reigns and hit it. Rey with a springboard dive but Balor eliminated Rey. We are down to four and they start brawling. Nakamura hit a knee strike to the ribs of Balor, who then caught him with a head kick. Nakamura with some knee strikes but Balor responded with a drop kick to the face. Reigns hit Balor with a clothesline. Cena with some right hands but Reigns hit a samoan drop.

Cena with a side slam to Reigns but Balor caught him with sling blade then a drop kick. Same goes for Reigns and Nakamura. Nakamura managed for his finisher but Balor blocked and Cena tossed Balor to the floor for the elimination. Cena tried talking to Reigns about teaming up and they did on Nakamura.

Cena turned on Reigns and hit him with his signature moves. Reigns hit Cena with a Superman Punch then went for the spear but Cena blocked and hit the AA. Cena attempted to eliminate Nakamura but Nakamura blocked and hit a knee strike sending Cena to the floor. Nakamura and Reigns are the final two superstars. They exchanged right hands and Reigns hit a Superman Punch and sent Nakamura to the apron. Nakamura with a head kick and locked in a triangle choke suing the ropes. Reigns powered out of it and hit a power bomb. Nakamura blocked the spear with a knee strike and hit another one off the middle rope. Nakamura went for his finisher but Reigns speared him out of nowhere. Nakamura caught him with a running knee and eliminated Reigns!

Winner: Nakamura

Renee Young is in the interview area and she is with Shinsuke Nakamura. She asks Nakamura about statements that he would be a WWE Champion. Nakamura sees someone in the ring and he gives them a knee to the face.

Baron Corbin stops by and he says that Nakamura is just hype. It is okay because the WWE Universe cares about you. Baron says he does not care about them so they can keep their pathetic opinions to themselves. Corbin says his resume speaks volumes and he will add to it on Sunday. That is not hype, it is results. Corbin asks Nakamura what has he done.

Nakamura says it is not what he has done, but what he will do at the Royal Rumble. Nakamura tells Corbin let’s rumble tonight.

Shinsuke Nakamura versus Baron Corbin

They lock up and Corbin backs Nakamura into the corner and he pushes Nakamura in the chest. Corbin with a wrist lock. Nakamura with a reversal. Nakamura backs Corbin into the ropes and he leans his head against Corbin’s belly. Nakamura tells Corbin to come on and Nakamura with a knee to the midsection followed by a knee drop. They go to the floor and Nakamura is sent into the apron and he returns to the ring and tells Corbin to come on.

Corbin goes up the ramp and Nakamura follows. Nakamura taps Corbin on the shoulder and Corbin punches Nakamura into the throat and then he sends Nakamura into the ring post as we go to commercial.

We are back and Corbin with a half nelson and chin lock. Nakamura gets back to his feet but Corbin brings him back down to the mat. Nakamura stomps on the foot but Corbin with a knee to the midsection. Nakamura with strikes to Corbin and then he hits a flying boot and both men are down. Nakamura with kicks to the chest but Corbin blocks one. Nakamura with an enzuigiri and then he hits a running knee into the corner.

Nakamura puts Corbin on the turnbuckles and he connects with a running knee for a near fall. Nakamura goes for a reverse exploder but Corbin with an elbow and he tries for a suplex. Nakamura with a knee and a sit out gourdbuster. Corbin counters a Kinshasa attempt with Deep Six for a near fall. Corbin runs into a boot and then Nakamura leaps over him but Corbin slides around the ring post and hits a clothesline for a near fall.

Corbin sets for End of Days but Nakamura counters into a cross arm breaker but Corbin blocks it and he gets a near fall with a rollup. Nakamura misses a round kick and hits an enzuigiri. Nakamura sets for Kinsahsa but Orton with an RKO out of nowhere and the referee calls for the bell.

Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura (by disqualification)

After the match, Orton gives Corbin an RKO.

Randy Orton is in the back and AJ Styles stops by. AJ wants to know if they want to talk strategy or should they just go after everyone. Randy tells AJ he has to trust him that they are on the same page tonight. After he wins the Royal Rumble, he does not care who has the title because he is coming after it at Wrestlemania. Shinsuke Nakamura shows up and he too sweets the title belt and says good talk.

AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Randy Orton versus Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn

Orton and Owens start things off and Orton with a forearm and Irish whip. Orton tries for an RKO but Owens escapes and goes to the floor. Orton follows and hits Owens from behind while Nakamura distracts Owens. Orton sends Owens into the ringside barrier and then back into the ring. Owens with kicks and punches before tagging Zayn into the match. Zayn with punches but Orton sends Zayn to the mat. Orton with the Garvin Stomp. Nakamura tags in and he kicks Zayn. Nakamura with kicks to the chest.

Zayn blocks a kick and Nakamura follows up with another kick. Nakamura with boots in the corner. Styles tags in and he punches Zayn and tries for a suplex but Zayn blocks it. Owens tags in and he punches Styles. Owens with a single leg take down but Styles with a head scissors and strikes followed by a clothesline and flying forearm. Zayn pulls Owens to the floor when Styles goes for the Styles Clash.

Owens and Zayn go up the ramp and the referee makes his count until Shane McMahon comes out to stop the count. He says this is not happening on his watch. It is No Count Out.

Orton, Nakamura, and Styles go up the ramp to attack Owens and Zayn as we go to commercial.

We are back and Zayn with a rear chin lock on Styles. Styles tries to make the tag but Zayn takes Styles back into the center of the ring. Owens tags in and clotheslines Styles and punches him. Owens with kicks and a short arm clothesline for a near fall. Owens returns to the reverse chin lock. Styles with punches but Owens with punches. Styles with an Ushigoroshi and both men are down.

Zayn and Orton tag in and Orton with two clotheslines and then he ducks a clothesline from Zayn before hitting the power slam. Orton with the IEDDT. Orton sets for the RKO but Owens hits Orton with a chair to get disqualified.

Winners: Shinsuke Nakamura, Randy Orton, and AJ Styles (by disqualfiication)

After the match, Owens hits Nakamura and Styles with the chair as well.

Shane McMahon comes out and he says the match is No Count Out, No DQ, and Anything Goes.

Styles hits Owens with the chair. Styles follows Owens to the back with a chair. Nakamura backs Zayn towards Orton and then he goes into the ring and he goes to the floor and he tries to get over the ringside barrier but Orton and Nakamura stop him. They send Zayn into the ring post. Orton grabs the ring steps and Nakamura sends Zayn into them. Orton sends Zayn over the announce table. Orton with a back drop driver onto the announce table.

Orton sends Zayn back into the ring and Nakamura hits Kinshasa. Orton with an RKO for the three count.

Winners: Shinsuke Nakamura, AJ Styles, and Randy Orton