Former United States champion Rusev became the number one contender for AJ Styles’ WWE championship yesterday on Smackdown Live after winning a gauntlet match involving four other WWE Superstars.

Daniel Bryan was out first for the match, defeating Big E and then beating Samoa Joe via countout. Before his next opponent The Miz came out, The Bludgeon Brothers attacked Bryan for interrupting them earlier with his entrance after they had just retained the Smackdown Tag Team titles. The Miz beat Daniel Bryan and then Rusev, the last one out, made The Miz tap out for the victory.

After the match was over, AJ Styles came to the ring and congratulated Rusev with a hand shake. Aiden English offered to do the same to Styles but pulled back his hand, resulting in AJ Styles decking him with a right hand.