Smackdown Live Preview & Discussion Thread: Styles Reacts To Handicap Title Match, Mojo v Ryder, Lynch Returns To Action, More

Tonight’s Smackdown Live takes place from the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL.

WWE has shared the following Quick Hits preview points on WWE.com ahead of tonight’s episode of Smackdown Live:

• How will AJ Styles react to his Handicap Match at WWE Royal Rumble?
• Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley clash in final U.S. Title Tournament First Round Match
• Becky Lynch returns to action against Ruby Riott
• Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable demand justice
• The Ascension battle The Bludgeon Brothers

We encourage you to begin your discussion about tonight’s Smackdown Live in the comments section at the bottom of this post, the WZ Forums or via the WZ FB Discussion Group.

Be sure to join WZ tonight at 8pm EST for live coverage of the show! Don’t forget to use #WZChat on Twitter to be included in our live coverage here on WrestleZone!

WWE’s full preview can be found HERE. We have included some excerpts below.

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On how AJ Styles will react to the news about his WWE Championship Handicap Match at the Royal Rumble:

Last Tuesday, after losing to Sami Zayn in controversial fashion during a battle that saw Kevin Owens, Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan get involved, a frustrated AJ Styles lashed out, saying he may as well face Owens & Zayn in a Handicap Match.

Bryan, whose leadership has been called into question in recent weeks, took the WWE Champion literally, making a Handicap Match for the title on the spot for the Royal Rumble event on Jan. 28. The Phenomenal One seemed less than thrilled with the decision. How will Styles react to this predicament tonight on SmackDown LIVE?

On Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley clashing in the opening round of the US Title Tournament:

The first round of the United States Championship Tournament comes to a close this week on SmackDown LIVE, as Zack Ryder clashes with Mojo Rawley in the final opening round showdown.

There’s no love lost between the former Hype Bros, after Rawley unceremoniously turned his back on Ryder and defeated him at WWE Clash of Champions. Long Island Iced Z wants to reclaim the star-spangled title and get payback on his former friend, while Rawley is looking to prove a point to Ryder, which he clearly stated in an intense video posted on Twitter Sunday night:

Who will move one step closer to the United States Championship?