12 WWE Royal Rumble 2018 Impulse Reactions
11. Handicapped
Not for the first time in their respective WWE tenures, conflict between AJ Styles and Kevin Owens was again hamstrung by a bigger angle involving Shane McMahon, but conclusive defeat for 'Kami' at the hands of 'The Phenomenal One' here should effectively spin them off into a WrestleMania programme with 'The Boy Wonder' and a partner to be determined.
That AJ finished Owens instead of the legal man Sami Zayn was largely irrelevant following the Royal Rumble match's epic conclusion. The identity of the mystery man now carries the remaining heft of a flailing tale. Shane got the last 'yep' in a backstage promo following their defeat caused in part by shoddy refereeing. This allows Daniel Bryan a side entrance back into the story should he wish to meddle again with his boss, or the two troublesome challengers.
Away from the theatrics, it was an assured display from all three that protected the niggling back injuries sustained by Kevin Owens as well as the dignity of the three involved working around some rather unique stipulations. Styles could do with something a little more straightforward between now and his mammoth WrestleMania clash though, the silliness is beginning to hurt his sterner standard.