5 WWE Superstars who defended Championships in Handicap matches

#3 AJ Styles vs Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn (WWE Championship match)

Styles takes on Owens and Zayn

Mere days before Survivor Series 2017, AJ Styles defeated Jinder Mahal to win the WWE title on an episode of SmackDown. This was the first time in 14 years that the WWE Championship had changed hands on SmackDown. The Phenomenal One took on Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series in a Champion vs. Champion match, eventually losing the bout. Styles went on to engage in a feud with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. He lost two consecutive matches to the dastardly duo, due to interference. This led to a Handicap match at WWE Royal Rumble 2018, with the WWE title on the line.

At the PPV, Zayn and Owens dominated Styles throughout the match, though the WWE Champion had a strong showing on various occasions. In the end, Styles managed to score a pin on Zayn to retain his WWE title, despite the odds being heavily stacked against him. He would go on to successfully defend the belt over the next few months, including a win over Shinsuke Nakamura at WrestleMania 34.