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Finally, The Rock has become the WWE champion after 10 long years. At the Royal Rumble PPV in Phoenix, Arizona, The Rock defeated the defending WWE Champion CM Punk whose record breaking championship reign of 434 days came to an abrupt end.
The Brahma Bull, who returned to the WWE last year after a brief period of exile to fulfill his commitments in Hollywood, took part in this emotional match with his mother in attendance. With the stipulation being that CM Punk will be stripped of his WWE title in case the Shield interferes, the match started with both men trading blows. The Anaconda Vice and the Sharpshooter were all to be seen during the course of the match. But after a while, as the Rock was about to go for a People’s Elbow, The Shield interrupted.
The lights went off, and out came the members of the Shield – Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. They triple powerbombed The Rock through a table and left ringside. CM Punk secured a pinfall victory. His joy of retaining the title did not last long as his celebration was interrupted by the Chairman of the Board Vince McMahon. As he was about to strip Punk of his title, The Rock interrupted and suggested for the match to restart.
The match restarted. Punk instantly went for the kill. As he was about to go for the GTS, The Rock countered and attacked him with a spinebuster followed by the People’s Elbow. The Rock went for the pinfall and won the WWE championship after a 10 years.
The Rock, who defeated Mankind in Survivor Series 1997 to win his first WWE (then WWF) Championship, is now an 8 time WWE Champion. Besides, he has also held the World Heavyweight Championship and the Intercontinental Championship 2 times. He is also a 5 time tag-team champion. The last time The Rock was a WWE champion was in 2002.
