John Cena vs. AJ Styles
Styles with a falling forearm strike for a two count. Cena sends Styles face first to the canvas. Cena with a side slam to Styles. Styles kicks Cena in the wrist. Styles plants Cena with a face buster for a two count. Styles with the Phenomenal Blitz to Cena. Cena responds with a massive lariat. Cena connects with the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena places Styles on the top rope. Cena lands a big right hand. Styles gets Cena in an Argentine Back Breaker for a two count. Styles dives over Cena. Cena connects with the Attitude Adjustment for a two count. Styles grabs onto Cena ankle. Cena with a running clothesline for a two count. Styles ducks a clothesline from Cena. Styles with a Pele Kick. Cena launches Styles to the ring apron. Styles with the Phenomenal Forearm for a two count. Styles kicks Cena in the chest. Cena plants Styles with another face buster.
Cena and Styles trade back and forth shots. Cena goes for the Attitude Adjustment, but Styles blocks it. Styles gets Cena trapped in the Figure Four Leg Lock. Styles applies the Cross Arm-Breaker. Cena plants Styles with a Sit-Out Powerbomb. Cena ascends to the top rope. Cena goes for a flying leg lariat, but Styles counters with a Powerbomb. Styles plants Cena with the Styles Clash for a two count. Styles for the Springboard 450 Splash, but Cena gets his knees up in the air. Cena plants Styles with the Canadian Destroyer for a two count. Styles connects with the Ushigoroshi. Cena catapults Styles face first to the top turnbuckle. Cena with an inverted cutter for a two count. Cena plants Styles with a Super Attitude Adjustment for a two count. Cena goes for the Attitude Adjustment again, but Styles counters with the Styles Clash. Styles goes for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Cena counters with the Attitude Adjustment. Cena follows that up with a roll through into another Attitude Adjustment to pickup the victory.
Drama. Charisma. Psychology. Intense submission holds and counters were the story of this INCREDIBLE championship match that stole the show at the 2017 Royal Rumble. John Cena brought out a new set of moves, three that I have never seen him use. Styles brought the only game he knows and that is his “A” game. When the night ended, John Cena reigned supreme and held the title over his head for the 16th time. Yes, I wanted AJ Styles to head to WrestleMania as champion, but I can’t question having John Cena holding it right now.
Love him or hate him, but John Cena has been involved in two of the best matches of 2016-2017, and this trumped their bout at SummerSlam. Close counters and drawing every piece of emotion from the crowd tells you that there is not many better than Styles vs. Cena. They work to near perfection together. It is hard to say this was not as good as some other bout we saw at WrestleKingdom. It may be apples and oranges to compare, but when a match can be this excellent in the ring only, it speak volumes on how they sell and how they execute.
