WWE Royal Rumble: John Cena matches Ric Flair's 16 world titles
Cena edges AJ Styles to earn world title No 16
By David Ruse
Last Updated: 31/01/17 11:21am
John Cena matched Ric Flair's record of 16 world titles after triumphing in a scintillating WWE Championship match against AJ Styles at the Royal Rumble.
The Cenation Leader finally dethroned Styles in a see-saw bout in San Antonio by hitting two Attitude Adjustments to bring The Phenomenal One's reign to an end at 140 days.
Flair was one of the first to congratulate Cena, whose 16th world-title came 12 years after he defeated John Bradshaw Layfield at WrestleMania 21 to claim his first.
The Nature Boy wrote on Twitter: "Congrats on #16 @JohnCena! Never Forget... To be the man, you gotta beat the man - WOOOOO!"
Cena and Styles put on a wrestling clinic at The Alamodome, just as they had done at SummerSlam in Brooklyn last August in a match Styles won.
The Phenomenal One blasted Cena with a glut of impact moves, including a Phenomenal Forearm, a Pele Kick and a Styles Clash, and trapped the veteran in his own submission move, the STF.
Styles also had the wherewithal to kick out of two Attitude Adjustments, a Canadian Destroyer and a modified cutter but eventually shipped the belt he had acquired from Dean Ambrose at Backlash in September.
Styles' former club pals, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows, did enjoy a wining night, though, the duo prising the Raw Tag Team Titles from Sheamus and Cesaro on Royal Rumble Kick-Off - Anderson pinning Cesaro with a handful of the tights.
Kevin Owens, meanwhile, retained the Universal Championship by beating Roman Reigns in a No Disqualification bout that was contested with Owens' buddy, Chris Jericho, suspended in a shark cage above the ring.
Jericho was able to impact on the match by dropping a pair of brass knuckles down to his pal - but it was Braun Strowman who proved key to Owens keeping hold of the belt he has worn since August.
The Monster Among Men ambushed Reigns as the challenger looked on the brink of victory, chucking him into the announce desk and through a table and allowing a groggy Owens to pin him.
Elsewhere, Raw Women's Champion Charlotte maintained her record of never having lost a title match on a WWE pay-per-view by besting Bayley with a Natural Selection onto the ring apron, while Newcastle native Neville won the Cruiserweight Title from Rich Swann via submission.
Plus, on Royal Rumble Kick-Off, Becky Lynch, Naomi and Nikki Bella overcame Mickie James, Alexa Bliss and Natalya, while Nia Jax overpowered Sasha Banks.
WWE Royal Rumble booking details
WWE Royal Rumble will repeated on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 491) BUT NOT Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 492) between 10am on Monday, January 30 and 8pm on Thursday, February 2 - 8pm is the start of the final playout.
The pay-per-view will cost £19.95 for viewers in the United Kingdom and €24.95 for customers in the Republic of Ireland.
You can order the show by visiting this link: https://my.sky.com/orderboxoffice/?DCMP=WWERoyalRumble
You can also book the event over the phone: UK viewers should call 03442 410 888, while customers in the Republic of Ireland should call 0818 220 225. (There may be an additional charge for telephone bookings).
You can also order the show via your Sky remote:
Sky+: Press the box office button on your remote, then click the sports tab followed by WWE Royal Rumble.
Sky Q: Press Home on your Sky Q remote, select TV guide, then Box Office and then WWE Royal Rumble. Enter your TV Pin if prompted. (Only bookings via Sky TV remote are recordable using Sky Plus).
Sky TV residential customers only. Commercial customers contact Sky for price and to order. Sky Box Office terms apply. Cable customers should contact their local cable operator.
