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Less than a hour after Daniel Bryan proclaimed the US title vacant, the first match-up of the tournament kicked off. To begin the second hour of tonight’s (Dec. 26) SmackDown Baron Corbin and Bobby Roode both looked to take the next step towards becoming an United States champion.
Minus former champion Dolph Ziggler, the pairing was a rematch of a Clash of Champions match from earlier in the month.
The LONE WOLF @BaronCorbinWWE can cover a LOT of ground in just a few seconds... #SDLive #USTitle pic.twitter.com/8iPcFDFCAv
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) December 27, 2017
An opportunity to advance in the #USTitle Tournament is ON THE LINE for @REALBobbyRoode and @BaronCorbinWWE, RIGHT NOW on #SDLive! pic.twitter.com/ctnAcJqRMp
— WWE (@WWE) December 27, 2017
The flow of the match was a little all over the place but both men had their time to shine. Roode hit a Blockbuster off the top rope. Corbin countered Roode’s finisher into a nasty Deep Six.
Off a busted chokeslam from Baron Corbin, Bobby Roode countered into a sunset flip rollup for the quick three count.
.@REALBobbyRoode IS MOVING ON TO THE FINALS!!! #SDLive #USTitle pic.twitter.com/Ue0lziQJPT
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubItal) December 27, 2017
A GLORIOUS victory for @REALBobbyRoode as he advances to the SEMI-FINALS of the #USTitle tournament! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/5XV3VNsXSn
— WWE (@WWE) December 27, 2017
Glorious! Bobby Roode advances to the final four of Daniel Bryan’s eight man US title tournament. Can the Glorious former Impact/NXT champion capture his first title on the WWE main roster?