WWE Knoxville, TN, live results: Kevin Owens vs. AJ Styles
Submitted by reader Rob O’Daniel
– Breezango defeated The Colons in about 10:10 when Fandango pinned Epico after a Falcon Arrow.
This was mostly a comedy match. Primo and Epico teased breaking up early but then hugged, which got major heat. The Colons both looked to bail at one point, but Breezango brought them back in. The Colons got the heat on Tyler Breeze about five minutes into the match. Breeze did the rolling away from a top rope move spot, hit a kick, and hot tagged in Fandango.
– Mojo Rawley defeated Aiden English in 8:46 with a running punch.
Before the match, English cut a Drama King promo, running down Knoxville and namedropping the Sunsphere. He got intense heel heat, including a loud “You Suck” chant. The crowd was quiet during Rawley’s offense early but got into it by the end. English kept playing to the crowd. Rawley clotheslined him from the ring to the floor at one point.
English cut another heel promo afterward. He then issued an open challenge, saying he would get another chance to show his art.
– Sin Cara defeated Aiden English in about 13 seconds with a senton bomb.
– Luke Harper defeated Erick Rowan with a discus lariat in 11:32.
They had a back and forth match. There were strong “Let’s go Harper!” chants early. At one point, Harper took a wild bump to the floor. The crowd seemed kind of dead in the latter parts of this one. Harper had a nice twisting elbow spot on the apron.
– Shinsuke Nakamura & Sami Zayn defeated WWE Champion Jinder Mahal & Baron Corbin when Nakamura pinned Corbin after a Kinshasa.
Zayn was awesome in this, hitting a Blue Thunder Bomb and doing other acrobatics. The crowd was into Nakamura big time. The heels got the heat on Zayn for a long time before he made the hot tag. This was probably the strongest match thus far.
– Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch defeated Tamina, Natalya & Carmella (w/ James Ellsworth) when Charlotte pinned Natalya after a big boot in 8:25.
Charlotte and Lynch were very over. James Ellsworth accompanied the heels and riled the fans outside. Natalya took the pinfall on her birthday.
– Tye Dillinger defeated Dolph Ziggler in 15:16 with a small package.
Well, this was odd. Dillinger got a tepid reaction coming out. Ziggler got a medium pop and then was cheered more throughout than Dillinger. Dillinger actually got heavily booed during an early comeback.
It was a good match. Ziggler tried to win with a roll-up with his feet on the ropes, but referee Charles Robinson noticed. Dillinger kicked out of a ZigZag. Ziggler went for a superkick, but Dillinger countered with one of his own. Dillinger kicked out of a Ziggler superkick. Finally, Ziggler was arguing with the ref and Dillinger caught him for the pin.
– AJ Styles defeated United States Champion Kevin Owens by DQ in 19:04.
Owens kept his title with the finish. It was a slow match early. It didn’t really pick up until about 10 minutes in, but it picked up in a big way then. They teased all their spots.
After the match, Owens got on the mic and said, “AJ Styles is the winner! Yay! Hooray! Yippee!” Owens told the crowd to stand up on their feet and cheer him. Styles laid him out with a Phenomenal Forearm. Owens reached for the title, then AJ grabbed it, gave it to him, and then hit a Styles Clash on him.