The rivalry over WWE Championship on Smackdown has become one-sided, completely. Daniel Bryan won the title from AJ Styles prior to the Survivor Series PPV event. Ever since then, we have barely spotted the former champion on TV. The new champion, on the other hand, was busy cementing his heel-turn. He was desperate to erase the universal babyface gimmick from the fans’ mind.
Needless to say, Daniel Bryan received success in his mission. His heel promos have been quite innovative garnering boos from the audience. His veteran qualities once again proved to get better of the audience and thereby proving that he is the best heel present in current WWE next. So no wonder he was the undoubted favorite heading into this match at WWE TLC.
AJ Styles was not quite in his best of forms for WWE TLC. He has suffered several beatdowns from Daniel Bryan going into the WWE Championship match. There are also major speculations going around his WWE contract. Apparently, his days with the WWE might be coming to an end once WWE TLC goes by. So fans did not expect him to win back the title at this point.
The match result did not turn out to be anything else than the expectation at WWE TLC. AJ Styles tried with his best but heel antics from Bryan cost the title opportunity. The match started with Daniel Bryan annoying the challenger. He was going outside the ring on repeated occasions despite the referee had rung the match bell. AJ Styles had to catch his opponent with a dropkick to begin the match officially.
Some offensive moves kept Daniel Bryan out of this WWE TLC match for sometimes. But he came back attacking the midsection of the former champion. Bryan locked in the Deathlock bow-and-arrow with a fishhook in the nose for sometimes before AJ broke the hold by catching the ropes. But Bryan was right back to set him up into the Tree of Woe and wrench his neck.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgDb663vHFo
Daniel Bryan continued the assault with the LeBell Lock in, fully. AJ Styles was finally able to counter it and hit the springboard 450-splash. He locked in the Calf Crusher and Bryan escaped the hold, barely. Going for the Phenomenal Forearm, Bryan side-stepped pushing the referee into the move. AJ Styles went to protect the referee but Daniel Bryan rolled him up for the three-count. The era of new Daniel Bryan continues as he retained the WWE Championship at WWE TLC.
