AJ Styles Retains WWE Title at Royal Rumble (Pics, Video)

– AJ Styles remained WWE Champion following his handicap title defense against Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens at the Royal Rumble. You can see pics and video from the match below via WWE’s Twitter account. Styles retained by rolling Owens up after throwing Zayn out of the ring and countering a Pop-Up Powerbomb. The match featured an angle at the end where Owens tried to go for the tag but appeared to just narrowly miss it.

The match was followed up by a segment backstage where Owens and Zayn complained to Shane McMahon, claiming they made the tag. When they asked Shane if he saw it, Shane said “Yep!” and walked away to continue the storyline of his screwing with Owens and Zayn.

He'll fight anyone (except @SamiZayn, he'd be wise not to do that tonight)…@FightOwensFight is on his way to the ring at @WWE #RoyalRumble! pic.twitter.com/kdvv9F3R8w

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 29, 2018

GET 👀 on @WWENetwork RIGHT NOW, because @AJStylesOrg is about to defend the @WWE Championship against @FightOwensFight AND @SamiZayn at #RoyalRumble! pic.twitter.com/U8RZWVYuIW

— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) January 29, 2018

Kicking off @WWE #RoyalRumble with the #WWEChampionship on the line?

Simply PHENOMENAL! @AJStylesOrg pic.twitter.com/FqxnETTsoL

— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018

There's always a way around the strategy…#RoyalRumble #WWEChampionship @FightOwensFight @SamiZayn pic.twitter.com/5FEawqAbZl

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 29, 2018

The numbers game is certainly NOT favoring @AJStylesOrg right about now…#RoyalRumble #WWEChampionship pic.twitter.com/B2QkLIHRfH

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 29, 2018

#HelluvaKick? NOPE, but THIS was a hell of a kick by @AJStylesOrg!#RoyalRumble #WWEChampionship pic.twitter.com/u6UucH7lRH

— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018

When the count is 2-and-99/100ths.#RoyalRumble #WWEChampionship pic.twitter.com/D8jRIvrKKa

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 29, 2018

PHENOMENAL FOREARM by @AJStylesOrg CONNECTS, but @FightOwensFight was lurking close by…#RoyalRumble #WWEChampionship pic.twitter.com/lON53MoSBv

— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018

Is #WWEChampion @AJStylesOrg about to turn this #HandicapMatch against @FightOwensFight and @SamiZayn into a #PHENOMENAL situation?! #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/utRmjN1oky

— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018

A phenomenal effort by a PHENOMENAL CHAMPION as @AJStylesOrg survives @FightOwensFight & @SamiZayn to retain his #WWEChampionship! #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/9TYB4DFsD6

— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018

🤘🤘🤘#RoyalRumble #WWEChampionship @AJStylesOrg pic.twitter.com/sCY0Ipbkz6

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 29, 2018