Adam Pearce will challenge Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship at the WWE Royal Rumble

Adam Pearce will challenge Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship at the WWE Royal Rumble

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Universal Champion Roman Reigns (featuring Main Event Jey Uso and Paul Heyman) kicked off this week’s episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown.

Reigns sued Adam Pearce for failing to protect Kevin Owens from the beatings he received last week. Reigns said Owens could not take care of his family right now and the blame fell on Pearce. He also discussed a Gauntlet Match with Pearce to determine Reign’s challenger instead of letting Reigns choose his own opponent. Later in the show, Paul Heyman said he could pull a few strings to add Adam Pearce to the Gauntlet Match. This was done although Pearce objected.

The Gauntlet match ends with Pearce against Shinsuke Nakamura, but before they could lock in, Nakamura was attacked by Reigns and Uso. Somehow it was allowed and tjem Pearce was kicked in the face with a kick and then draped over Nakamura so that it would be Pearce vs Reigns at the Royal Rumble.

Gauntlet Match Results:
1. Rey Mysterio defeated Sami Zayn with the 619 and splashed on top
2. Shinsuke Nakakamure forced Rey Mysterio to tap after the submission of the armrest
3. Shinsuke Nakamura Defeats King Corbin with the Kinshasa
4. Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Daniel Bryan with the Kinshasa
5. Adam Pearce pinned Shinsuke Nakamura, thanks to Roman Reigns and Jey Uso

Here is the updated map for the WWE Royal Rumble:

WWE Universal Championship
Roman Reigns (Champion) vs. Adam Pearce

WWE Championship
Drew McIntyre (Champion) vs. Goldberg

Royal Rumble contest for men
Participants Announced: Daniel Bryan, Bobby Lashley, AJ Styles, Randy Orton

Women’s Royal Rumble Contest
Participants announced: Nia Jax, Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, Bayley

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