Kevin Owens faces Sami Zayn to decide Fastlane's WWE Championship challenger

Kevin Owens (left) and Sami Zayn (Image: Twitter)

Bengaluru, February 1: Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn will lock horns in the next episode of WWE Smackdown Live to decide AJ Styles' challenger for the WWE Championship title at Fastlane.

Both wrestlers felt they were robbed of the WWE Championship against AJ Styles at the title match during Royal Rumble recently. The blue brand's Shinsuke Nakamura stunned all by winning the Royal Rumble recently, and he subsequently earned the right to feature in the main event of Wrestlemania 34.

Nakamura also confirmed that he is willing to face AJ Styles for the WWE Championship at Wrestlemania 34. Before that though, AJ Styles has to defend the WWE Championship belt at the Fastlane PPV. The title match will serve as the main event of the brand-exclusive PPV, Smackdown Live General Manager Daniel Bryan said.

Daniel Bryan, while accepting that the two were indeed knocked out unfairly, decided to hand them another opportunity. He decided to pit the two best friends against each other at next week's Smackdown Live. The winner of the clash will be AJ Styles' opponent at Fastlane PPV.

Looks like the potential of "Co-@WWE Champions" is out the window as @WWEDanielBryan reveals that @SamiZayn and @FightOwensFight will battle for the opportunity to face #WWEChampion @AJStylesOrg at #WWEFastlane! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/vHivkuDUhh
— WWE (@WWE) January 31, 2018

"Due to the controversial end to their title bout at Royal Rumble, Zayn & Owens would get another opportunity to capture the WWE Championship... by facing off against one another next week on SmackDown LIVE with the winner going on to face Styles for the title at WWE Fastlane!" the WWE said.

NEXT WEEK: It's going to be @FightOwensFight vs. @SamiZayn on #SDLive to determine @AJStylesOrg's opponent for the @WWE Championship at #WWEFastlane! pic.twitter.com/vgDM2b67jQ
— WWE (@WWE) January 31, 2018

Apart from this match, Smackdown Live announced another high stakes clash for the February 5 episode in Kansas City. Rusev, who recently won a Fatal 4-way contest, will challenge Bobby Roode for the United States Championship next week.

IT'S RUSEV DAYYYYYYY!!!@RusevBUL makes @TrueKofi tap out to the #Accolade to earn a #USTitle opportunity! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/atLmdoV6j6
— WWE (@WWE) January 31, 2018

Next Tuesday may be #RusevDay, but when you're #USChampion, your schedule fills up VERY quickly...#SDLive @REALBobbyRoode pic.twitter.com/U4EDjWddv3
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 31, 2018