FULL MATCH – AJ Styles vs. Solo Sikoa: SmackDown highlights, Dec. 22, 2023

After two torturous months on the sidelines, The Phenomenal One gets his hands on the menacing Solo Sikoa, the Superstar who attempted to end his career. Catch WWE action on Peacock, WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more. #SmackDown
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[SOUND] >> Here we go, the Main Event of Friday Night SmackDown. What a match this promises to be, the returning AJ Styles. >> Speaker 2: It looks to me like AJ Styles came out here tonight expecting and looking for a fight, not a wrestling match, not a technical competition.

AJ knows this is gonna be one hell of a fight against one of the toughest men walking God’s green earth. >> Speaker 2: Do you blame him? Solo Sikoa jumped from 20ft in the air and tried to crush AJ Styles, and end the man’s career.

>> Speaker 2: Listen, I don’t blame AJ Styles one bit, I’ve never seen this out of AJ Styles before. >> Speaker 1: I think it was wise of AJ Styles to just maybe, could he have dealt with LA Knight, >> And Randy Orton a little bit better than what we saw last week?

>> Speaker 2: AJ Styles is a former WWE champion, there’s no one at this table who is in any position to question the motives of that man. AJ is a world traveled, world class superstar, he knows what he’s doing, he’s one of the best in the world.

But Solo is hell bent on destroying what The Phenomenal One has created. [NOISE] >> And one of the most dangerous men in WWE today. >> Can be so emotionless at times, Solo Sikoa. [INAUDIBLE] So loyal to his Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns. [NOISE] >> [INAUDIBLE] As the Tribal Heir by

The head of the Table last week. >> Speaking of business, we heard from Nick Aldis, SmackDown GM, earlier on tonight, he announced that in two weeks at New Year’s Revolution, it’s a Triple Threat match, Styles, Knight, and Orton. The price, a match with Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble.

>> Speaker 2: But again, you don’t think that Solo was playing the movie in his mind as he walked down the ramp where tonight he takes out- >> AJ Styles once and for all, and can lay him at the feet of Roman Reigns?

>> Speaker 1: Certainly looks like a plan of Styles, takes to the skies, a motivated AJ Styles, can he get the better of Solo Sikoa tonight? >> Sky- >> Speaker 2: Hight into the air goes Styles, massive back body drop, courtesy of Solo. >> Speaker 2: Take another look at this. [NOISE] [INAUDIBLE]

>> Launched into orbit. >> Speaker 1: We talked a lot tonight about the reason that Roman Reigns may have made Solo Sikoa the Tribal Heir. I think it has to do with the fact that throughout the past 2 years of The Bloodline,

Solo Sikoa is the one man who’s had unwavering loyalty to Roman Reigns. Jey Uso walked away from him, Jimmy Uso’s had those times he didn’t know where his loyalty lied, but Solo Sikoa has always been there for Roman [INAUDIBLE]. [NOISE] >> Solo [INAUDIBLE] scarier seeing how [INAUDIBLE] Solo has become and

Has continued to become as this match progresses. >> AJ Styles is out here as a man on a mission, Styles feels that Solo attempted to end his career, and Styles wants payback. >> Speaker 1: Solo connects with the headbutt.

And Styles said it to us, Corey, during the break here, as Solo goes in for the cover, Styles was just full of passion when he said, he tried to end my career. You could see the passion bursting through the veins of AJ Styles. [NOISE] >> [INAUDIBLE] Passion is not enough to

Topple someone the caliber of Solo Sikoa. [NOISE] >> Speaker 1: Rocking Solo- >> [CROSSTALK] >> And AJ, face first, into the turnbuckle he goes. >> What a collision. >> Speaker 1: Horrible collision for AJ Styles. [NOISE] >> Speaker 2: This’s the pace Solo likes, slow it down, [INAUDIBLE] your opponent hard [INAUDIBLE]-

>> Here- >> [CROSSTALK] >> Solo! >> Solo just [INAUDIBLE] just playing with his prey. [NOISE] >> [INAUDIBLE] Styles. >> But listen to what you just said, Solo is playing with his prey, his prey being AJ- >> Exactly. >> Styles, this is not some run-of-the-mill superstar, or

Some guy who just learned the business, this is one of the best of all time, and Solo is turning this into a massacre. >> Speaker 2: Yeah, and ask John Cena what it’s like to be in the ring with Solo Sikoa. >> Speaker 2: This may be the end of Styles.

>> Speaker 2: Went for the headbutt. >> Speaker 1: And out of harm’s way is AJ, can he get back on his feet? >> Speaker 2: Yeah, critical moment for Styles here. [NOISE] >> Rare you see Solo miss out like that, well scouted by Styles.

[NOISE] >> AJ slowly now back on his feet. Styles at pace now, taking the fight to Sikoa. [NOISE] >> Speaker 2: AJ was able to weather the storm, sliding forearm rocks The Enforcer. And now AJ, look at this, moonsault. >> [INAUDIBLE] I believe. >> Into the cover, can he get the win here?

And Solo. >> Speaker 2: Yeah, I think you’re right, Cole, I noticed Solo immediately grasping at his knee, he was trying to get it up to defend, but AJ certainly getting the better of that exchange. But now can Styles rally, can AJ fight through the pain as he’s done so

Many times in his career? >> Speaker 1: He’s weathered an awful lot in this match with Solo Sikoa, but AJ’s got that fighting. There’s that quickfire offense. [NOISE] >> Solo’s waiting for him. >> What- >> A Samoan Drop, Pop-up- >> Wow! >> Samoan.

>> Speaker 1: Solo to put away Styles, and Styles still in this match. >> Speaker 2: Another display of the grit, determination, and toughness that define AJ Styles, who is still technically in this fight. But after this massive Pop-up Samoan Drop, I don’t think Styles has much longer. [NOISE] >> Solo Sikoa

[INAUDIBLE] lofting AJ Styles. [NOISE] >> Swinging and missing, Styles connects. >> Speaker 2: Pelé Kick, Solo is now down, that may have been the Hail Mary that AJ Styles needed. >> Speaker 2: Yeah, can AJ recover, though, and climb back into this? [NOISE] >> AJ trying to rally.

[NOISE] >> Chants of AJ Styles start to ring out here in favor of The Phenomenal One, but Solo puts him to the outside. Styles waiting for him. >> Speaker 2: AJ trying to line it up. [NOISE] >> Here goes AJ, looking for the phenomenal Forearm. Caught by Solo, wants a Samoan Spike.

Can AJ get the victory here? Solo out just in time. >> Just barely escaping before the three. And Solo now beginning to look weary for the first time in this matchup, Solo feeling the effects of this onslaught from Styles. Can AJ land The Styles Clash?

[NOISE] >> Solo using that low center of gravity to prevent AJ from hoisting him. Now it’s Styles who’s in trouble. >> Speaker 1: Using the ropes to his advantage, now connects with Solo. AJ lining it up once more, Styles, Phenomenal Forearm! [NOISE] >> Wisely, almost instinctively, Solo rolling to the outside.

>> Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! >> Speaker 2: Roman Reigns is back! [SOUND] >> Roman Reigns picked this moment, saw the opportunity, went right after Styles. [NOISE] >> Eliminate one of your possible opponents. [NOISE] >> Step up to Roman Reigns, you’re gonna pay. [NOISE] >> Speaker 1: AJ continues to fight,

Looking for a little bit of separation, connects with Roman Reigns! >> Speaker 2: Reigns is down. [NOISE] >> Reigns is stunned. [NOISE] >> And The Island of Relevancy has been taking heavy fire for the past few weeks, an unfamiliar situation for The Tribal Chief.

>> Speaker 1: This spells trouble, and Solo Sikoa back up. Now pluming AJ Styles as Roman Reigns watches on. [MUSIC] >> Speaker 2: The enemy of my enemy is my ally, right now Styles should thank his lucky stars that The Viper is in the house.

>> Speaker 1: Randy Orton is here to fight! [NOISE] >> Taking it to The Bloodline. [NOISE] >> Speaker 2: Big right hands from Randy Orton, who’s got Roman Reigns trapped in the corner. >> Speaker 2: And here comes The Bloodline backup. [NOISE] >> Quickly outnumbered once more, the appearance of Jimmy Uso. [NOISE]

[MUSIC] >> They didn’t ask for his help, but The Megastar has arrived on the scene. >> Speaker 2: Make no mistake, LA Knight isn’t here to help anybody, LA Knight is here to fight The Bloodline. [NOISE] >> Jabs to Solo and Roman, look at LA Knight go. [NOISE]

>> LA Knight battling with Solo Sikoa, Orton sending Jimmy Uso to the outside. [NOISE] >> This has become a nightmare for Roman Reigns. One of the three men in the ring are gonna face Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble two weeks from tonight.

They have the Triple Threat to determine the number one contender. [NOISE] >> Styles blasting Knight now, LA Knight answers. >> Speaker 1: Styles wanted Orton and Knight to stay out of the things. >> Speaker 2: Well, they’re all in the thick of it now. >> It’s all going down officially in two weeks,

But right now, LA Knight standing tall. >> Speaker 2: And look at Roman, Roman’s like, let them beat each other up. >> Speaker 1: Roman’s smart. [NOISE] >> Speaker 2: Styles, Knight, Orton, Triple Threat at New Year’s Revolution. Who’s gonna challenge The Tribal Chief?