Two matches set for WWE SmackDown next week

A match with WWE Championship implications and a United States title match are set for SmackDown next week.

In a backstage segment with Daniel Bryan tonight, it was announced that Kevin Owens would be facing Sami Zayn in a number one contender’s match next Tuesday. The winner will go on to challenge for AJ Styles’ title at Fastlane on March 11th.

Styles retained against Owens & Zayn in a handicap match at the Royal Rumble, but the storyline coming out of it was that Styles pinned Owens when Owens wasn’t the legal man. Owens and Zayn lobbied for a rematch, but Bryan made them face each other instead.

There was dissension between Owens & Zayn as they took on Styles & Shinsuke Nakamura in the main event this week. Zayn closed the show by doing an interview were he said their friendship isn’t over, but Owens has gotten his own opportunities and now is Zayn’s time.

Fastlane is SmackDown’s final pay-per-view before WrestleMania and will take place at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Before Nakamura won the Royal Rumble, the venue had been advertising that Styles would be defending against Nakamura, Owens, Zayn, and Randy Orton in a fatal five-way. Fastlane will likely be the last time the WWE title is on the line before WrestleMania.

Also on next week’s show, Bobby Roode will be defending his United States Championship against Rusev. That was set up when Rusev defeated Kofi Kingston, Jinder Mahal, and Zack Ryder in a fatal four-way match tonight.