WWE Royal Rumble 2017 Review: Results, Analysis, and Grades

WWE.com

WWE Championship Match
AJ Styles (c) vs. John Cena

Result: John Cena defeats AJ Styles to win the WWE Championship.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Whenever Styles and Cena have met in a WWE ring, it turned into an instant classic. Money in the Bank and SummerSlam were highlighted by these two, and when we look back at Royal Rumble 2017, this will be the case again.

Early on, the brutality of this match stood tall. These two kicked and clotheslined each other to pieces, including Cena almost hulking up with rage as he decked the WWE Champion with a vicious forearm. It almost looked heel-like (he’s not turning anytime soon), but is more likely just a more aggressive Cena.

The most important thing here is that John Cena is now a 16-time World champion. He ties Ric Flair for the most recognized WWE World title reign of all-time. It’s a monumental feat for him to accomplish, and it came in grand fashion with this fantastic match.

Cena now walks into WrestleMania 33 season as the WWE Champion. However, he has to defend the belt at the Elimination Chamber against five other Superstars. The Royal Rumble winner is also lurking in the background, who turned out to be from SmackDown.

Styles’ WrestleMania future is unclear. He could be out of the title picture and move on to someone else. There may also be a singles one-on-one rematch for him at some point with Cena.