WWE News: Shock return and interference in WWE Championship match; new faction formed?

What's the story?

At WWE Royal Rumble 2019, Daniel Bryan faced AJ Styles in the WWE Championship Match. The match was an incredible display of technique from both Superstars, but there was a shocking return during the bout which ended things.

Erick Rowan made his way out to the ring, and while the referee was knocked out, took out AJ Styles to help Daniel Bryan to win the WWE Championship.

In case you didn't know...

AJ Styles has adopted a more vicious side to his personality of late when Mr McMahon provoked him into displaying his ferocious side. Styles attacked Bryan quite a few times in the past weeks showing that he will stop at nothing to get Bryan's title.

Daniel Bryan, on the other hand, has a new gimmick as well. Ever since he turned his back on the WWE Universe, Bryan has taken up an environmentalist gimmick whereby he hates the WWE Universe saying they are guilty of polluting the world and destroying it.

There was quite a lot of speculation from the WWE Universe, where they wanted to open a society similar to that of CM Punk's Straight-Edge Society. Daniel Bryan may have done just that.

The heart of the matter

During the match between AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan, the referee was knocked out accidentally by Bryan during a Hurricanrana attempt. Erick Rowan made his way out, dressing in an extremely similar manner to how Bryan dresses recently.

It's... @ERICKROWAN? #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/Jt12V1CqP8

— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2019

Rowan took advantage of the knocked out referee, and entered the ring to decimate AJ Styles. Bryan then pinned AJ Styles, to defeat him and retain his WWE Championship.

Following the match, Bryan and Erick Rowan teamed up to destroy Styles.

What's next?

Daniel Bryan appears to be opening his own faction, with Erick Rowan joining. This might mean that Luke Harper also joins the faction in the future.