WWE threw a curveball and kicked off the PPV proper with the main event.

Dean Ambrose pounced on both AJ Styles and John Cena, setting off a fiery brawl. The fight moved to the outside where The Lunatic Fringe briefly reigned. 

Cena's power earned him the momentum. Styles' high-flying put him on top for a time. Ambrose relied on back-alley offense. 

Styles ousted Ambrose from the contest for a long stretch by throwing him onto the ring steps. That left The Phenomenal One and Cena to push each other, each man trading the advantage.

Ambrose charged into the action. He nearly seized the match as it grew wilder and more high-octane.

Near-falls followed near-falls as each wrestler hit their biggest moves.

Cena clamped on the STF on Styles as Ambrose wrenched the champion's leg. Styles tapped out, but the referee called the submission decision off when he realized two opponents had on submission holds. 

Cena had Ambrose beat moments later, but Styles used a steel chair to knock out The Face That Runs the Place to score a three-count.

Styles wins via pinfall to retain the world title.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

  • Cena slams Ambrose into a ring post.
  • Styles dives out of the ring to nail Cena with a flying forearm.
  • Cena tosses both Ambrose and Styles with a German suplex.
  • Styles hits a top-rope Frankensteiner. 
  • Ambrose kicks out of the Attitude Adjustment.
  • Styles suplexes Cena onto the ring apron.
  • Ambrose grabs Styles hand to prevent him from tapping out.
  • Cena lifts both foes over his shoulders with the Attitude Adjustment.
  • "In the craziness of Dean Ambrose, sometimes you see brilliance."—John "Bradshaw" Layfield.

Styles, Cena and Ambrose made sure this clash lived up to all its hype.

The flow of the match was near-perfect. Each wrestler looked strong. A litany of huge moves comprised a thrilling title bout.

The announcers did well to play up the significance of Cena potentially winning, and that led to a great supply of suspense throughout. It was smart of WWE to delay that victory and Cena tying Ric Flair's record. Delaying that moment will only make it more powerful.