WWE SmackDown 5 Takeaways: Sami Zayn Enters Championship Picture

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1. Handicap Match at the Royal Rumble Creates Great Intrigue for WWE Championship Picture

The WWE Championship picture had been in a stale state of affairs for much of 2017.  But as the calendar has turned to 2018, it has been drastically shaken up with new challenges for The Phenomenal AJ Styles.

Styles has moved past the Jinder Mahal roadblock, only to run into the Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn roadblock.  And not to mention, the storylines surrounding SmackDown’s commissioner Shane McMahon and GM Daniel Bryan are prevalent as well.  With Owens defeating Styles on the final SmackDown of 2017, it seemed likely he would have a WWE Championship shot sooner rather than later.

However, last night saw the addition of another challenger for Styles’ championship and after more confusion, Zayn was able to pick up a win over The Phenomenal One.  This led to Bryan making a huge match that will see Styles defending his championship against both Owens and Zayn in a handicap match at the Royal Rumble.

Bryan’s tease of an alliance with Owens and Zayn has reached another level and his tension with Shane O’Mac will only intensify moving forward.  But the bigger picture of this situation is unlike the Universal Championship match at the Royal Rumble, the WWE Championship match has great intrigue.  There are many pieces of this equation and the chaotic feel should result in some great TV.

Next: WWE Raw 5 Takeaways From Jan. 1 Show

The deck has been stacked against The Phenomenal One and the odds are now against the WWE Champion at the Royal Rumble.