Clash of Champions: Five things we learned as AJ Styles retains and Daniel Bryan makes a stand

AJ Styles defeated Jinder Mahal while Daniel Bryan sparks controversy to save Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn

AJ Styles is still WWE Champion, but much of the talk after Clash of Champions was of the controversy surrounding the actions of Daniel Bryan.

Bryan, Smackdown Live’s General Manager and Commissioner Shane McMahon were both special guest referees for the night’s main event and both got directly involved – Bryan ensuring Owens and Zayn kept their jobs by making a fast count to secure them a win against Shinsuke Nakamura and Randy Orton.

Styles, meanwhile, saw off Mahal to end what had been a frantic night of WWE action.

On reflection, here are five things we learned from WWE Clash of Champions:

BRYAN COULD MAKE A SHOCK COMEBACK

Daniel Bryan’s status as a performer in WWE has been a hot topic for many, many months now. After a serious injury forced him to retire from in-ring competition, there has been talk of him leaving the company once his contract ends next year, and wrestling elsewhere with medical clearance – something he’s not able to obtain while with WWE. Or at least that’s what we’ve believed up to now. Sunday was by far the closest we’ve seen to Bryan physically involving himself in a situation – so are the seeds being sewn for a comeback as part of a wider feud with McMahon? The odds, overall, may still be against it – but you should never say never.


 Some Clash of the Champions action 
 (WWE)

GABLE MAKES A CASE

American Alpha were one of WWE’s top tag teams before their split saw Jason Jordan head to Raw while Chad Gable was left kicking his heels until the return of Shelton Benjamin more recently. Jordan’s talent is undeniable, but while he has been thrust into a high-level feud on Monday nights, few have given props to Gable who proved at Clash of Champions that he has just as much to offer. His suplexes to Rusev & English during the tag bout were freakish and it’s hard to see how he and Benjamin won’t have a great year ahead of them in 2018.

SOMETHING NEW THIS WAY COMES FOR CHARLOTTE

Charlotte’s win in in the Women’s Championship lumberjack match on Sunday was a decisive end to her feud with Natalya. The two have fought since the summer months, which has been great for the veteran Natalya who has proved, to anyone who may have still doubted, she is of huge value to the women’s division. Now, though, it seems Charlotte is set for something fresh heading into the New Year. Is now the time for Carmella to cash in, or might one of the Riott Squad step up?

AJ, SOLIDIFIED

Just as Charlotte prepares for a new challenge, so too does AJ Styles – or at least that’s how it appears. WWE were very high on Jinder Mahal for much of 2017 but, after his huge, historic WWE title win on these shores in Manchester in November, Sunday’s victory was the bout to cement Styles’ second reign atop of the mountain on Smackdown. Mahal must now move on to other things as The Phenomenal One targets January’s Rumble and, of course, April’s Wrestlemania.


 AJ Styles retained the WWE Championship 
 (WWE)

IT’S A BIG ONE FOR ZIGGLER

Such was the chaotic controversy of what followed, Dolph Ziggler capturing the US title may well slip under the radar of some. That’s a shame – it’s a big win for Dolph, who has made no secret of his torment in deciding whether or not to stick around in WWE beyond his current contract. The character he portrays on-screen of a frustrated loner, not happy with his lot, is not exactly too detached from reality. While Ziggler no-doubt knows that the long-term future of WWE belongs in the arms of others, his performance on Sunday proved he can be more than just a stop-gap champ. There’s something about his feud with Baron Corbin and Bobby Roode that’s reignited his in-ring work, and long may that continue.