It had long been a rumor fueled further by WWE itself, but it's finally confirmed; "the Phenomenal One" AJ Styles officially made his WWE debut at the 2016 Royal Rumble pay-per-view!
The former IWGP Heavyweight Champion entered the WWE World Heavyweight Championship Royal Rumble match at #3, after #1 entrant and defending champion Roman Reigns eliminated #2 entrant Rusev.
The former IWGP Heavyweight Champion entered the WWE World Heavyweight Championship Royal Rumble match at #3, after #1 entrant and defending champion Roman Reigns eliminated #2 entrant Rusev.
Styles eliminated two wrestlers: Tyler Breeze (#4) and Curtis Axel (#5). He teased his finishing move, the Styles Clash, a couple of times, the first of which was against Reigns. It was definitely a Royal Rumble moment seeing Styles inside the same ring with WWE veterans Chris Jericho, Goldust, Big Show, and Kane, who upped his career total elimination record to 43. He was eventually eliminated by Kevin Owens (#18).
This isn't the first time Styles set foot in a WWE ring. He had his first WWE (then WWF) match against The Hurricane in WWF Metal in January 26, 2002. When a WWE contract didn't materialize for him, he went to TNA and became its NWA and TNA World Heavyweight Champion on separate occasions. Then, he joined New Japan Pro Wrestling, became the leader of arguably the greatest wrestling faction today, the Bullet Club, and won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
Welcome "back" to the WWE, AJ Styles!
This isn't the first time Styles set foot in a WWE ring. He had his first WWE (then WWF) match against The Hurricane in WWF Metal in January 26, 2002. When a WWE contract didn't materialize for him, he went to TNA and became its NWA and TNA World Heavyweight Champion on separate occasions. Then, he joined New Japan Pro Wrestling, became the leader of arguably the greatest wrestling faction today, the Bullet Club, and won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
Welcome "back" to the WWE, AJ Styles!
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