Randy Orton beats AJ Styles to earn spot in WrestleMania 33 main event

Published Mar. 15, 2017 3:04 p.m. ET

Nick Schwartz

AJ Styles thought he had earned a WWE World Championship shot at WrestleMania 33 by beating Luke Harper last week on SmackDown, but Randy Orton shockingly turned on Bray Wyatt, burned down the Wyatt Family compound and challenged him to a match in the main event.

Orton had initially earned the right to headline WrestleMania by winning the Royal Rumble, leaving Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan with a dilemma -- both Styles and Orton had a legitimate case to be a part of the main event in Orlando, but only one spot was open.

McMahon and Bryan solved the problem by having Orton and Styles face off one-on-one with a title shot on the line, a matchup that could have easily been on the WrestleMania card itself.

Styles thought he had Orton beat after a crafty move allowed him to avoid an RKO. Styles was set up on the apron for his signature Phenomenal Forearm, but as he was just about to jump off the rope, Orton jumped into position to hit the RKO. Styles shifted in mid-air and landed back in place on the apron while a stunned Orton hit the canvas -- but Orton was then able to counter a springboard 450 and put away Styles with a huge RKO to win the match.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/839310420091383808

The victory means that Orton will face Wyatt in the main event of WrestleMania 33, which in terms of the storyline was likely the best outcome for fans. The destruction of the Wyatt Family has been one of the most entertaining aspects of SmackDown for weeks, and while Styles was entirely worthy of a WrestleMania main event, his time will come.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/839310156659740673

So what does that mean for AJ Styles? Following his loss, Styles confronted SmackDown commissioner Shane McMahon. Rumors of a McMahon-Styles match have been swirling for weeks, and WWE seems to be heading in that direction.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/839311219181895681

It's going to be tough for McMahon to top his insane dive off the top of the cell from last year, but he always seems to rise to the occasion for huge events.