WATCH: Adam Pearce Wins First Match In Six Years, Earns Universal Title Shot

Adam Pearce won his first match in six years and will now face Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship at Royal Rumble.

It all went down on this week’s edition of SmackDown.

The show opened with Roman Reigns confronting WWE official Adam Pearce. Roman accused Pearce of disrespecting his family by allowing Kevin Owens to face Jey Uso on last week’s SmackDown.

Later in the show, Paul Heyman revealed that Pearce would be participating in a gauntlet match to determine Roman’s Royal Rumble opponent.

The show closed with the gauntlet match, and Pearce was the last man to enter. His opponent was Shinsuke Nakamura, who had already beaten Rey Mysterio, Baron Corbin, and Daniel Bryan.

Before Pearce made his way to the ring, Roman, Heyman, and Jey Uso appeared. Jey attacked Nakamura, and Roman joined in. Jey then super kicked Pearce and pulled him on top of Nakamura’s unconscious body so the referee could count the pin. Pearce was declared the winner of the match.

As the show went off the air, announcer Corey Graves reminded viewers that Adam Pearce was officially the number one contender to the Universal Title.

Pearce will get his title shot at the Royal Rumble event.

This match was Adam Pearce’s first since 2014.

Well, this is disappointing. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/hnO5QWiNZK

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 9, 2021

What a great “win” by @ScrapDaddyAP, who will now face @WWERomanReigns at the Royal Rumble! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/ObSpiKmHoB

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 9, 2021