1. Edge Defeats John Cena for the WWE Championship (New Year’s Revolution 2006)
One of the most iconic WWE Championship title changes heading into the Royal Rumble was Edge’s WWE Championship win over John Cena at New Year’s Revolution 2006. The Rated-R Superstar, unable to dethrone Ric Flair for the Intercontinental Championship in the curtain-raiser, clearly had bigger fish to fry.
However, Cena, battered and bloodied, retained the WWE Championship in a hard-fought Elimination Chamber match against Kurt Angle, Kane, Chris Masters, Carlito, and Shawn Michaels.
Afterward, Edge made history by becoming the first man to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase successfully. Cena was in no fit state to put up a fight against a fresh and motivated Edge. Nevertheless, the Ultimate Opportunist winning his first WWE Championship was a historic moment.
The road to the Royal Rumble shifted as Cena’s 280-day WWE Championship reign was no more. Inevitably, the leader of the Cenation challenged Edge for the WWE Championship in a hotly anticipated rematch at the 2006 Royal Rumble.
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – WWE – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on WWE Royal Rumble and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the significant news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.
You can check out WWE programming on Netflix (Raw), USA Network (SmackDown), The CW (NXT), Tubi (WWE Evolve), A&E (WWE Superstar Sunday – Rivals, WWE LFG, and Greatest Moments), and Peacock (WWE Main Event, as well as archives and premium live event streaming). Follow WWE on social media to relive top moments and matches on YouTube, and catch fast-paced action on X (WWE Speed).
