WWE SmackDown Grades: Sami Zayn Makes Big Fastlane Statement
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2. AJ Styles vs. Dolph Ziggler
The 6-Pack Challenge at Fastlane for the WWE Championship is bound to be a standout match and could shake up the blue brand moving forward. But last night, two of the six participants in that match were set to do battle when WWE Champion AJ Styles took on Dolph Ziggler.
Prior to the match, Styles cut a solid promo saying how he needs to retain his title for the fans to give everyone the match that they want at WrestleMania between Styles and Royal Rumble winner Shinsuke Nakamura. But The Phenomenal One was approached by Ziggler, who had a few words of his own to pass on.
The two took a couple verbal shots at each other and Ziggler said Styles competing for the what the fans want is a bad decision and that the fans will turn on him, just like they did to Ziggler. The match started earlier than expected immediately after they were done talking and while it didn’t quite turn out like everyone thought, it was a solid encounter.
The two worked well together and broke out some impressive action before Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn came out and attacked both individuals and ending the match. Styles and Ziggler’s night was far from over as was Owens and Zayn’s, but the actual Styles vs. Ziggler match itself served its purpose.
The Phenomenal One and The Showoff didn’t get the typical one-on-one match they are used to getting, but the two put on a solid enough match that was simply meant to set up a bigger encounter.