A.J. Styles makes WWE debut in 'Royal Rumble' match
The "Royal Rumble" match was simply phenomenal following the debut of A.J. Styles on Sunday night.
WHAT?! THE PHENOMENAL @AJStylesOrg is in the #RoyalRumble Match!!! @WWERomanReigns is stunned... pic.twitter.com/SGDw5N95IZ
— WWE (@WWE) January 25, 2016
Rumors had been running rampant for weeks that World Wrestling Entertainment had come to terms on a contract with the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, along with Shinsuke Nakamura, "Machine Gun" Karl Anderson, and Doc Gallows.
Yeah.....WWE!
— AJStyles.Org (@AJStylesOrg) January 25, 2016
With WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns standing in the middle of the ring, Styles' music echoed throughout the Amway Center as he made his way down to the squared circle as the No. 3 entrant.
Entrant No. 3 in the #RoyalRumble Match is simply #PHENOMENAL! @AJStylesOrg has arrived in @WWE! https://t.co/fjpnn7f6kd
— WWE (@WWE) January 25, 2016
His night ultimately came to an end at the hands of Kevin Owens, who lost his Last Man Standing match earlier in the evening for the Intercontinental Championship to Dean Ambrose.
Related: Dean Ambrose survives brutal 'Last Man Standing' match against Kevin Owens
Styles, 37, is a two-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, three-time NWA Heavyweight Champion, two-time TNA World Champion, and six-time TNA X-Division Champion.
Congrats to TNA Original @AJStylesOrg on his debut tonight. Wish him all the best.
— TNA WRESTLING (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 25, 2016