8 Booking Steps For The Undertaker's WWE Return

4. A Three-Horse Race

AJ Styles John Cena
WWE.com

WWE’s Royal Rumble build will be in full flow by early January, and on the first show of the month, John Cena will make his full-time TV return. Cena will announce his participation in the Rumble, and as someone who has butted heads with the WWE Champion in the past, this won’t sit well with AJ Styles.

The two will collide at various points throughout the month, and The Undertaker will once again provide the focal point. Having last met at Survivor Series, Cena will have a bone to pick with Styles for laying him out, and AJ will still harbour a grudge for Cena’s suggestion that he, not Styles, should face Taker.

One week before the Rumble, AJ Styles and John Cena are arguing in the ring. It looks like things are going to end in violence when the lights drop, the gong hits, and the Phenom’s appears visage on the Titan Tron.

His message is short, but clear. “AJ Styles, John Cena: I’ll see YOU at the Royal Rumble.”

The video cuts, and before Cena and Styles have a chance to react, Dean Ambrose’s music hits. The Lunatic Fringe hasn’t been seen since Styles injured him at TLC, and he’s back for vengeance. He takes both men out, and with John Cena competing in the Rumble, Daniel Bryan books Ambrose in another rematch with Styles.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.