Daniel Bryan is the new WWE Champion. (Source: WWE)
With less than a week left for the Survivor clash, Daniel Bryan shocked the WWE Champion AJ Styles and the WWE Universe as he won the title to set up a clash with the Universal Champion Brock Lesnar at the pay-per-view. Lesnar, who won the title at the Crown Jewel, by registering a win over Braun Strowman, was slated to take on Styles at Survivor Series. Styles opened this week’s Smackdown Live to talk about the big fight, but tensions escalated when Lesnar’s advocate Paul Heyman showed up.
Heyman taunted the WWE Champion that Styles is no match for Daniel Bryan and called him as the “second-best-in-ring performer in WWE”. The Phenomenal One, clearly frustrated by Heyman’s insinuations said that he made Bryan tap out once and can do so again.
Bryan immediately showed up agitated with Styles’ response and asked him to bring up his name for “no reason” or he would punch him in the face. Styles said Bryan’s name which prompted the “Yes!” Man to attack the Champion, causing a massive brawl in the middle of the ring. The Smackdown Live Commissioner announced that the two will step into the ring for a title match on the show.
With a chance to win the title and set up a date with the Beast on Sunday, Bryan tried to take on the advantage with his speed, but a tweak in the leg shifted momentum towards the 2-time WWE Champion. In the final minutes of the match, Styles tried to launch a Phenomenal Forearm, but Bryan ducked and the Champion took down the referee. Seeing the official down, Bryan took a page from Shinsuke Nakamura’s books and dropped the Phenomenal One with a low blow, followed by a Running Knee. As the referee got up, Bryan went down for a pin to win the title.
To add to the crowd’s shock, Bryan then attacked Styles after the match was over and left the ring with a sadistic smile on the face.
WWE Smackdown Live Results:
WWE Champion AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan got into a massive brawl
Jeff Hardy def. Andrade “Cien” Almas
Rey Mysterio def. The Miz to remain on Team SmackDown at Survivor Series
Becky Lynch hand-picked Charlotte Flair to replace her at Survivor Series
The Bar & Big Show def. The New Day
Daniel Bryan def. AJ Styles to win the WWE Championship