Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn will face off on the January 13 episode of WWE SmackDown.
Owens and Zayn have been at odds in recent months, as the former WWE Universal Champion has never approved of Sami’s alliance with The Bloodline. As Zayn has continued to become a genuine member of the group, Owens has increasingly took issue with the faction. Owens then joined the Brawling Brutes’ team for the Men’s WarGames Match against The Bloodline at WWE Survivor Series. There Zayn helped his team score the win by low-blowing Owens in the closing moments.
The feud has continued to escalate ever since, and on the January 6 episode of SmackDown, Owens challenged Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns to face him at WWE Royal Rumble. The challenge came one week after Owens and John Cena defeated Zayn and Reigns in a tag team match. On Friday, Reigns yelled at Zayn, infuriated that he “called his shot” ahead of their loss. Later in the show, Reigns apologized, and Paul Heyman announced that Zayn could redeem himself by beating Owens next week. The match was then officially announced.
NO cracks in #TheBloodline ☝️@WWERomanReigns @SamiZayn @HeymanHustle #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/tsjcSA2doX
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 7, 2023
As previously announced, Braun Strowman will challenge Gunther for the WWE Intercontinental Championship next Friday.
The updated card for the January 13 episode of SmackDown is as follows:
- WWE Intercontinental Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Braun Strowman
- Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn
WrestleZone will have coverage of the show as it airs.
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