Exclusive: Reason why AJ Styles and Kevin Owens ended via count-out
Styles and Owens had a disappointing finish and we reveal why.
Kevin Owens and AJ Styles are pencilled for a long-term feud
What's the story?
AJ Styles and Kevin Owens had a solid match at WWE Backlash, but fans were left disappointed by a count-out finish. However, there was a specific reason the match ended the way it did.
In case you didn’t know...
Kevin Owen's defeated AJ Styles via count-out last to retain his US Championship. It was the first ever PPV match between Styles and Owens. The pair were scheduled to face off at WrestleMania 32, however, creative plans were changed for both men.
The heart of the matter
As reported by myself several weeks back, right here on Sportskeeda Kevin Owens and AJ Styles have been pencilled in for a long-term feud, where they will meet in multiple matches.
With last night, at Backlash, simply being match one in a series, the WWE did not want to put anyone over with a clean finish. Owens winning by pinfall would've left AJ with very little ground for a rematch and Styles winning via pinfall would've meant KO losing the US Championship at back-to-back PPVs, damaging his credibility and that of the US Championship.
Therefore, the WWE had to go down the route of putting someone over via count-out or DQ. Writers flip-flopped about who would go over, as the WWE betting lines clearly indicated, before deciding to put Owens over via the creative count-out finish we ended up seeing.
What's next?
The feud between Styles and Owens will resume on the next episode of SmackDown Live.
Author's take
The match between Owens and Styles was solid, and the finish was unique enough for me to have no complaints about what they did. On a night that finally belonged to Jinder Mahal, the match would have been ultimately forgotten, so the WWE booked it correctly.
I look forward to the next encounter, where we are likely to see a decisive winner.
WWE Backlash 2017: 5 possible finishes for Kevin Owens vs AJ Styles
How is the United States Championship match at Backlash going to end? Here are some possible scenarios.
AJ Styles will face off against Kevin Owens at Backlash
WWE's first Smackdown Live exclusive pay per view after Wrestlemania 33 – Backlash 2017 – is just around the corner and expectations are high as there are a number of interesting matches on the card.
The likes of Jinder Mahal, and Breezango – the team of Tyler Breeze and Fandango – have been pushed to No. 1 contenders for the WWE Championship and the Smackdown Live Tag Team Championships, while Shinsuke Nakamura also makes his in-ring debut against Dolph Ziggler. But the most anticipated match is for the WWE United States Championship.
The champion, Kevin Owens takes on AJ Styles in what is most probably going to be the match of the night and the WWE Universe is eagerly waiting to see what the two gifted athletes have in store. These are the kind of matches that can make secondary titles such as the US Championship mean something.
With two of the most gifted wrestlers going at it, we analyse how this match could end. So, without any further ado, here is our list of 5 possible finishes for Kevin Owens vs AJ Styles:
#5 Rusev attacks AJ Styles
Rusev didn’t appear on SmackDown as promised
Fans all around the world were left disappointed when Rusev didn't keep his word and appear on SmackDown Live this past Tuesday night in order to stake his claim for the WWE Championship. While it seemed initially that he was poised for a main event run, his absence this past week has put a question mark on those plans.
If The Bulgarian Brute is indeed out of the main event picture, what better feud for him to prove himself than one against AJ Styles? The Phenomenal One has proven that he can put on great matches with just about anyone and an extended storyline with Rusev could greatly benefit both men.
It seems like WWE creative is keeping AJ out of the main event picture for the foreseeable future and this would be a good alternative during this run. This seems unlikely, though, as Kevin Owens and Styles should be having at least another match or two before their feud is settled once and for all.
#4 Kevin Owens wins clean
Owens is a supremely gifted wrestler
This is the second least likely end to the match after our previous entry. While Kevin Owens is one of the most gifted superstars on the WWE roster, there is no doubt that the company values AJ Styles more highly than The Prize Fighter.
The attack on AJ's knee by Owens with the US Championship also points to the fact that the WWE is leaving themselves an out whereby they can give Kevin Owens the victory and still maintain Styles’ reputation.
It would be a little bit absurd for Owens to pick up the clean victory this early into the feud if the pair are indeed expected to have a couple of more matches before burying the hatchet once and for all.
#3 AJ Styles wins
Styles is one of the best fighters in WWE
It seems absurd that AJ Styles is considered the underdog in a feud against anyone except John Cena. After all, that is just how over he is with the WWE Universe and that's just how good of a wrestler he actually is. But, in the United States Championship match against Kevin Owens, he is the underdog.
With Owens losing the title to Chris Jericho at Payback before winning it back two nights later on Smackdown Live, it seems counterproductive to have him lose on the very next pay-per-view; especially when his current gimmick is that of The New Face of America.
But, on the other hand, this is AJ Styles we're talking about. The WWE might well decide that putting the belt on him is the best way to help reestablish the US Championship as one that has to be taken seriously.
#3 AJ Styles wins
Styles is one of the best fighters in WWE
It seems absurd that AJ Styles is considered the underdog in a feud against anyone except John Cena. After all, that is just how over he is with the WWE Universe and that's just how good of a wrestler he actually is. But, in the United States Championship match against Kevin Owens, he is the underdog.
With Owens losing the title to Chris Jericho at Payback before winning it back two nights later on Smackdown Live, it seems counterproductive to have him lose on the very next pay-per-view; especially when his current gimmick is that of The New Face of America.
But, on the other hand, this is AJ Styles we're talking about. The WWE might well decide that putting the belt on him is the best way to help reestablish the US Championship as one that has to be taken seriously.
#2 Kevin Owens loses by DQ or Count Out
Owns will keep hold of the title in case of a DQ or count out
If the WWE is indeed set on giving AJ Styles the victory, then they might very well consider having him lose intentionally via Disqualification or Count Out in order to escape with the US Championship.
After all, Neville pulled this trick off to great success at Payback when he got himself disqualified against Austin Aries in the Cruiserweight Championship match.
This would help generate some proper heat on Kevin Owens while and build the hype for the rematch while ensuring that both wrestler's reputations are protected.
#1 Kevin Owens wins dirty
Owens could attack Styles’ knee to win
This is basically the better version of our previous entry. AJ Styles is so over that him losing to Kevin Owens after KO pulls out some dirty trick would do little to harm his reputation.
And, like I've mentioned before, they've set up the perfect angle with the attack to the knee.
This ensures that there is no backlash – if you'll excuse the pun – from a dusty finish while accomplishing all the things Owens losing via DQ or Count Out accomplishes. The smart money is to bet on Kevin Owens beating AJ Styles via shenanigans.
