Logan Paul Beats Kevin Owens to Retain WWE United States Title at Royal Rumble 2024

Logan Paul retained the United States Championship via disqualification against Kevin Owens at the Royal Rumble on Saturday.

Earlier in the match, Austin Theory snuck Paul brass knuckles.

Owens later grabbed them for his own use, however, and landed a punch on the champion.

KO then went for the pin, but after a two-count, the referee spotted the brass knuckles on his right hand. The official then called the match, and Paul retained the belt.

Afterward, an enraged Owens powerbombed the YouTuber through the announce table.

Back at Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia in November, Paul became a champion in WWE for the first time when he beat Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio for the U.S. title thanks to the use of brass knuckles.

Over the next several weeks, a tournament was staged on SmackDown to determine who would be his first challenger and opponent at Royal Rumble.

KO was joined in the tournament by Santos Escobar, Dragon Lee, Bobby Lashley, Karrion Kross, Carmelo Hayes, Grayson Waller and Austin Theory.

Owens had a tough road, especially since he nursed a hand injury throughout, but he defeated Theory and Hayes en route to the finals before getting past Escobar to earn the championship opportunity.

Prior to the start of the tournament, KO and Paul had a run-in that served as a preview of their eventual encounter, as Owens expressed his dislike for The Maverick and made it his goal to take the U.S. title from him.

Owens has held no shortage of gold during his WWE career, but entering the Rumble, the U.S. title was his most-won prize, as he enjoyed three separate reigns with the belt.

While KO scratched and clawed for years to become a top star in WWE, Paul has established himself in a much shorter amount of time, which may have contributed to Owens' disdain.

Additionally, Paul has aimed to rub his quick ascent in everyone's faces, giving The Prizefighter even more incentive to knock him down a peg.

Owens undoubtedly had the experience advantage and entered the Rumble as a far more accomplished WWE Superstar, but Paul again found a way to beat a veteran and may have positioned himself to carry the U.S. title into WrestleMania 40.

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