WWE Smackdown: John Cena returns, AJ Styles survives Triple Threat match

CHICAGO, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The last Smackdown Live of 2016 marked the return of John Cena and featured AJ Styles once again defying the odds to remain WWE champion.

The Cenation leader kicked things off in Chicago as the packed audience voiced their happiness and displeasure at Cena's return following a two-month sabbatical.

Cena said of absence that he isn't leaving for Hollywood and plans to stay and compete in the WWE for the foreseeable future.

"What am I doing here tonight? I'm setting the record straight," the 15-time heavyweight champion said. "I'm not done, I'm not leaving, and I'm sick of this new era b.s. It ain't the new era, it's the my time is now era!" he continued referencing the company's influx of new Superstars and his theme song.

Cena then declared that he would be facing the winner of the night's Triple Threat main event at the Royal Rumble for the WWE championship. "I know what you're thinking. I can't do that? Well I just did. Why? Because I'm John Cena, recognize," he said of the challenge.

In the main event, Styles defied the odds once again and survived against challengers Dolph Ziggler and the towering Baron Corbin who dominated the majority of the match.

During one pivotal moment, Corbin was only momentarily incapacitated when Styles and Ziggler teamed up to put The Lone Wolf through the announcers' table.

Ziggler almost stole the show and the match as well after he was able nail Corbin with his patent Zig Zag later on as Corbin performed the devastating End of Days on Styles.

It was the Phenomenal One who still came out on top however, quickly hitting Corbin with a Phenomenal Forearm to pin Ziggler for the three count after he was knocked out cold by the End of Days.

The stage is now set for Styles to defend his WWE championship against Cena at the Royal Rumble. The two longtime rivals last competed against each other in October at No Mercy, where Styles bested Cena and Dean Ambrose in a Triple Threat match.

Other highlights from Smackdown Live include The Wyatt Family losing their newly won Smackdown tag-team championships to American Alpha and Alexa Bliss retaining her Smackdown women's championship against Becky Lynch.