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Adam Pearce will face Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble later this month.
During this week’s edition of Friday Night SmackDown, Adam Pearce won a Gauntlet Match against Rey Mysterio, King Corbin, Sami Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Daniel Bryan for a chance to face Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble.
Earlier in the night, Roman Reigns had words with Adam Pearce, taking issue to him allowing Kevin Owens to have a match during last week’s episode. Paul Heyman later said he “pulled some strings” to get Adam Pearce added to the Gauntlet Match later that night. Pearce objected to the idea, considering he has not worked a match in several years.
Shinsuke Nakamura defeated all competitors in the Gauntlet Match, and Adam Pearce was the last man remaining. Jey Uso and Roman Reigns attacked Shinsuke, allowing Pearce to get the pin, and the Universal Championship opportunity At Royal Rumble
WOW! @WWERomanReigns and Jey @WWEUsos have made their presence felt ahead of the final battle in this Gauntlet Match! #SmackDown @ScrapDaddyAP @ShinsukeN pic.twitter.com/N22iqkvW0k
— WWE (@WWE) January 9, 2021
Adam Pearce is a former five-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, last wrestling in 2014.
This week, betting odds shifted in favor of Daniel Bryan winning the 2021 Men’s Royal Rumble match.
READ: 2021 Men’s Royal Rumble Betting Odds
WWE will present the 2021 Royal Rumble on Sunday, January 31 from the WWE ThunderDome inside Tropicana Field.