Welcome back, folks.
This sold out crowd here witnessing the main event of massive consequence.
The winner faces Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
three weeks from tomorrow at the Royal Rumble.
>> The matchup that was sanctioned by SmackDown general manager, Nick Aldis.
All three men have had issues with The Bloodline in their own separate ways.
Both Orton and Styles forced to miss significant periods of time.
LA Knight feels as though he should be the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
So Nick came up with a brilliant idea.
Let's let these three men fight.
Who will earn the right to be the first to challenge the Tribal Chief?
>> Speaker 6: That was all this watching from ringside.
Triple Threat rules apply here.
First superstar to gain pinfall or submission wins.
No count outs, no disqualifications.
>> Speaker 2: What's the strategy, then?
>> Speaker 3: If you're LA Knight, you are looking for the BFT.
You are looking to strike quickly and take somebody down in the blink of an eye.
But you've also got to be extremely cautious and wary of the RKO.
A move that has put everybody down and takes a fraction of a second.
>> Speaker 5: If you're AJ Styles, you need to avoid both of those maneuvers and
stick to your veteran instinct.
Styles has the best aerial game of these three athletes.
Orton's got a lot of experience, but AJ Styles is right up there with him.
>> Speaker 1: Speaking of experience, Randy Orton now to the outside.
That was a muscle from LA Knight.
>> Speaker 5: LA Knight putting on the brakes.
>> Speaker 1: Knight now just battering Randy Orton head off the announce desk.
>> Speaker 7: And Knight, a step ahead now.
AJ Styles joining the party.
[NOISE] >> Speaker 2: There's
a motivated LA Knight- >> Speaker 8: You better watch him.
>> Speaker 7: Never take your eyes off The Viper.
>> Speaker 1: Calculated and waiting to pounce.
>> Speaker 5: Look at Randy Orton just surveying the situation.
And AJ suffers the same fate as Knight.
>> Speaker 7: I don't think Randy's done yet, KP.
>> Speaker 9: The Viper hoisting up Knight yet again.
>> Speaker 7: And LA Knight's chances of heading to The Royal Rumble are not
looking good.
>> Speaker 1: Orton stalking his trade, taking his time,
with both Styles and Knight.
>> Inflicting more damage for AJ Styles.
>> Speaker 7: Counter. >> Speaker 8: Quick and nimble.
On the announce desk.
>> Speaker 7: Orton with a taste of his own medicine,
being driven fine first into our commentary table.
We knew there would be carnage, perhaps not this early in the matchup,
but all three men realize what is at stake, the opportunity at hand.
>> The opportunity of a lifetime to be the one to end Roman's historic reign.
Stiles, Chuck, and Orton back inside the ring.
It's a smart strategy by AJ Styles.
LA Knight has been neutralized for the moment.
AJ now turns this into a one on one scenario.
Could be looking for the phenomenal forearm.
Styles lining it up.
>> Speaker 8: Caught by Orton.
Caught by Orton.
>> Speaker 7: A veteran move by Randy Orton.
Recognizing what was needed in this situation it wasn't fancy, but
it stopped AJ's forward progress.
AJ's neck was from up on the top rope as Orton goes back for more now.
Will he go there?
Randy Orton with a DDT.
>> Styles once spiked and The Viper can taste victory inching ever closer.
LA Knight is nowhere to be seen.
Randy Orton just has to pin AJ Styles.
>> Speaker 7: There is no just about that, KP.
That is no easy feat.
AJ may be down, but he's not out yet.
Randy wants to make absolutely sure the phenomenal one does not earn the title
opportunity.
LA Knight, nice one behind dragon horn.
Outside the ring, into the steel steps he goes.
>> Speaker 5: Those are the breaks, unfortunately, in a Triple Threat Match.
All perfectly legal mistakes absolutely enormous as
AJ flies to the outside, Styles.
>> Speaker 9: Knight, and Orton,
who is gonna head to the Royal Rumble to challenge Roman?
>> Speaker 1: Everyone on the edge of their seat here.
>> Speaker 9: The winner of this Triple Threat Match will face Roman Reigns at
the Royal Rumble.
It's Styles, Orton, and LA Knight.
>> Speaker 1: What a match so far, Corey Graves.
This could go anywhere.
>> Speaker 4: During the break, it was AJ Styles who gained the upper hand, and
a sliding forearm rocks LA Knight.
>> Speaker 4: There's still many questions swirling about what's going on in the mind
of AJ Styles.
What's unleashed this darkness that we've seen recently?
>> Speaker 7: There's no question about that.
Our flying forearm right in the grill.
Orton's been neutralized on the outside.
We saw AJ attacking Randy's knee throughout the commercial break.
>> Speaker 1: Orton still fighting the knee, attacked the back as well,
put across the announced desk.
>> Speaker 4: Thus far,
none of these three men have been able to sustain much of an advantage.
We've seen momentary advantages.
You get the upper hand, but someone steals it away just as quick.
>> Speaker 1: Three of the very best in WWE.
>> Speaker 4: Knee buried to the breadbasket of LA Knight.
That's gonna drive all the wind out of your body.
It's extremely painful,
as evidenced by the Grimace on the face of the Defiant one.
And now AJ Styles brimming with confidence.
>> Speaker 6: You can understand how styles is spitting fire,
putting an ambulance by The Bloodline.
>> Speaker 1: Now looking to earn a date with Reigns.
Quickly across now for the cover.
Can he get the win?
>> Speaker 6: Kicking out.
>> Speaker 4: This is as much about vengeance as it is
the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
These three men are all driven by vengeance, but the goal remains the same.
Dethrone Roman Reigns, which no one has been able to do to this point.
>> Speaker 6: It's a reign that stands at 1,223 days.
It shots to Randy Orton,
two of the best over the last 20 years now doing battle here.
>> We heard from both Roman and the wise man, Paul Heyman, earlier in the night.
We know for a fact that Roman Reigns is watching every moment
of this matchup, studying his potential opponents.
>> Speaker 1: Face first off the steps.
>> Speaker 6: There's an aggression.
>> Speaker 1: An unforgiving nature about AJ Styles now.
>> Speaker 4: Again, no count out,
no disqualification under Triple Threat Rules.
All of this perfectly legal, but you do tend to want your opponent,
at least one of them inside the ring to earn the victory.
And that's what AJ Styles is realizing great counter by Knight.
Shoulders down.
>> Speaker 2: Can LA Knight qualify?
>> Out at two.
AJ Styles, no wasted time.
>> Speaker 4: Big jawbreaker by La Knight.
And Orton joins in on the fun from the outside.
Sharp chops now from LA Knight.
[APPLAUSE] >> Listen to this sold out crowd here in
Vancouver.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> But watch out,
it's The Viper Randy Orton, stopped by LA Knight.
>> Speaker 3: Now it's Orton's turn to eat a few knuckle sandwiches.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Speaker 1: LA Knight wants that
rematch, wants that date with Reigns.
>> Speaker 3: Side Russian leg sweep takes down Orton.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Speaker 2: Quickly
across now to Styles.
>> Speaker 3: Look at LA Knight, in complete control at the moment.
Remember, Knight believes in his heart that he should be
the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion right now after his encounter with Reigns
at Crown Jewel.
>> He would have been if not for the interference of The Bloodline.
Knight back on his feet, taken down again by Orton.
Look at the physique of Randy Orton.
>> Snap power slam takes down Knight.
>> Looking better than ever.
Orton does the same to Styles.
>> Lightning quickness.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> 18 months of plotting,
the calculated Randy Orton eyeing LA Knight.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> Here we go, no, BFT.
>> Knight in for the cover, can he get it?
Can he get AJ Styles?
Whoops.
>> Speaker 3: Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, brilliant move by Styles.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> AJ, knowing there's
no disqualification, he didn't maliciously put his hands on the official.
Just wanted the official to stop the count, Charles Robinson did just that.
But LA Knight delivered a BFT to The Viper, and
it looked as though Knight was headed to the Rumble.
>> Speaker 1: Felt like deja vu, I'm sure, for LA Knight, milliseconds away.
AJ Styles somehow keeping this match alive.
>> Speaker 3: That's the thing about AJ Styles, as much as you can dish out to
the Phenomenal One, he will happily take it and give you just as much back.
>> Speaker 2: Styles.
>> Pele kick.
>> Connects with LA Knight.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Speaker 3: A little thing you should
pay attention to, notice how AJ Styles grabbed the foot of LA Knight immediately.
Keeping Knight in close quarters, not allowing LA to roll out of the ring or
find himself in a more favorable position.
That is veteran instinct that you just don't learn overnight from AJ Styles.
>> Speaker 1: Such a massive night here tonight for New Year's Revolution,
following up an epic Monday Night Raw to kick off 2024.
>> Speaker 3: Seems to me as though Styles pulled up a little lame,
seemed like he was limping a bit.
>> Speaker 3: What is AJ looking for here?
>> AJ, my god.
>> Springboard 450, cover.
>> Cover to book the date with Reigns, and Knight kicks out.
My god.
>> Speaker 3: Right now AJ's gotta be asking himself what else could I
possibly do?
Fighting through the pain, the big time springboard.
Tucked tightly, 450 splash right on the mark.
But LA Knight refusing to be denied.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Speaker 1: What a beautiful sight that
was, but it couldn't finish off LA Knight for AJ Styles.
>> Speaker 3: AJ with these sharp shots right to the forehead of LA Knight.
>> Speaker 1: Knight battered and bruised.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> The sadistic
look on the face of AJ Styles.
>> Speaker 3: Here we go, Styles setting it up.
We could have a Styles Clash.
>> Speaker 1: Looking to hoist up LA Knight.
>> Speaker 3: AJ saw Randy coming.
>> Randy just driving AJ into the corner.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Orton back for more, big kick.
>> Forearm as The Viper wobbled.
AJ lining it up.
>> AJ Styles.
>> RKO.
>> Are you kidding me?
Orton, cover to qualify, wait a second.
>> Turnabout is fair play.
Again, great awareness by LA Knight to keep his opportunity alive.
Nick Aldis is feet from us and we just made eye contact,
and he basically shrugged his shoulders.
It's perfectly legal under triple threat rules.
>> [APPLAUSE]
[MUSIC]
>> The Bloodline is in the house.
Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa, Jimmy Uso, and
the wise man do what they want, when they want, to who they want.
>> Speaker 1: Solo Sikoa, instructed by Reigns, heads inside the ring,
as does Jimmy Uso.
And this has gotta be disappointing for the WWE Universe just as much as Orton,
Styles, or Knight, we had a classic on our hands.
>> Speaker 2: This is carnage now, absolute mayhem.
>> But Roman Reigns answers to no one.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> This is Roman's show,
that is Roman's ring.
It is Roman's WWE Universal Championship.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> And
this could be devastating, Orton face first.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> Roman Reigns quarterbacking this
onslaught from inside the ring, Solo and Jimmy Uso doing his bidding.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> The Bloodline picking on
the carcasses left.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> Reigns crushing Styles.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Roman
just asked Solo and Jimmy Uso who's next?
The Tribal Chief is making a statement, this is a painful,
agonizing reminder that he runs everything on Friday Night SmackDown.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Locked, loaded.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Knight back on his feet,
Superman punch.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> Spear to LA Knight.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> Now the turn of Randy Orton.
>> This is absolute dominance from The Bloodline.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> And
we're just feet away from Nick Aldis.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> Roman lining it up again,
Orton trapped in the clutches of Solo.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> A Samoan spike, spear combination.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> No, don't be touching me.
>> Hey, hey.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> When he's done celebrating,
tell him congratulations.
>> Yeah, why?
>> Cuz he's just earned himself a Fatal 4-Way match with all three of these guys
at the Royal Rumble.
>> [APPLAUSE]