20 Most Unbelievable WWE Moments From 2016
9. AJ Styles Defeats John Cena...Three Times!
The reason why 2016 may be most remembered for the WWE debut of AJ Styles is in large part thanks to the incredible first year The Phenomenal One has had.
Far from a rookie, AJ Styles's experience in the squared circle is well-documented. As the longtime flagship performer of TNA, Styles departed the company in 2013 and went to work for Ring Of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling where he added to his reputation as the industry's best worker.
After his WWE debut, Styles put on instant classics with Chris Jericho, Roman Reigns, and Dean Ambrose. In the middle of these programs, however, Styles was put into a dream-level feud with longtime WWE flagbearer, John Cena.
For years fans wanted to the face of WWE vs. the face of TNA and in 2016, it finally happened. That was shocking in itself, but what made this program even more unfathomable was when AJ Styles came out on top, defeating Cena twice in pay-per-view singles matches and once in a pay-per-view Triple Threat.
While Cena has lost several times in the past to other WWE newcomers (e.g. Bray Wyatt, Rusev, Kevin Owens), he would always avenge a single loss with multiple victories, winning the feud. That wasn't the case with The Phenomenal One and it was a scenario hard to imagine prior to 2016.