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Kevin Owens Announced For Smackdown Match One Night Before Royal Rumble

By John Canton • Published 21st January 2023
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Kevin Owens will have to face off against a member of The Bloodline just one day before he wrestles Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble.

At the Royal Rumble next Saturday, January 28th, Kevin Owens will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. It’s been about two years since Owens has had a major championship match against Reigns like this.

Things didn’t go so well for Owens on the January 13th edition of Smackdown when he was in a singles match against Sami Zayn. As the match was nearing its conclusion, Owens was attacked by The Usos and Solo Sikoa, who are part of The Bloodline with Zayn. While Zayn didn’t expect it, the attack led to Owens being put through a table after a splash from Sikoa.

Owens got some revenge against The Bloodline last night on the January 20th Smackdown when he was supposed to be part of a contract signing with Reigns. Instead of a traditional contract signing with promos, Reigns attacked The Usos, Sikoa and Reigns in an attack that led to Owens giving Reigns a Popup Powerbomb through the table that was in the ring. Owens signed the contract and left through the crowd.

That has led to WWE announcing that Owens will have to face Solo Sikoa in a singles match on next week’s January 27th edition of Smackdown in Laredo, Texas.

The last time Reigns was in a match was the December 30th edition of Smackdown when he teamed up with Sami Zayn to lose against Owens and Cena. As Reigns has pointed out, Zayn took the fall in that match.

As for next Friday on Smackdown, here are the matches WWE has advertised:

* Rey Mysterio vs. Karrion Kross

* Tag Team Title Tournament Semifinals: Sheamus & Drew McIntyre vs. Hit Row

* Tag Team Title Tournament Semifinals: Imperium vs. Legado Del Fantasma

* Kevin Owens vs. Solo Sikoa