The wrestling world is bracing for a potentially historic moment as one of its most celebrated icons, AJ Styles, has agreed to stake his illustrious career in a high-stakes showdown. The Phenomenal One will face Gunther at the 2026 Royal Rumble Premium Live Event, with his in-ring future hanging in the balance. This development has sparked intense debate among fans and analysts about whether WWE should indeed pull the trigger on Styles' retirement at this iconic venue.
A Career Deeply Intertwined with Royal Rumble
AJ Styles' connection to the Royal Rumble event is nothing short of legendary. He made his unforgettable WWE debut exactly a decade ago at the 2016 Royal Rumble, entering as a surprise participant in the Men's Royal Rumble match to one of the loudest crowd reactions in recent memory. The following year, Styles entered the event as the reigning WWE Champion, engaging in an epic confrontation with John Cena, widely regarded as the Greatest of All Time.
Throughout his remarkable tenure, Styles has been a consistent presence in Royal Rumble matches and other marquee encounters at the event. His most recent appearance came at the 2025 Royal Rumble Premium Live Event, marking his return from an extended hiatus. Given that his WWE journey began at the Royal Rumble and featured numerous significant milestones there, it appears poetically fitting that this could be the stage for his final bow.
Styles Personally Chose Royal Rumble for Retirement Match
According to exclusive reports from PWInsider Elite, AJ Styles himself specifically selected the Royal Rumble event for his final in-ring performance. The decision was reportedly made months in advance, with the Royal Rumble emerging as the only viable option before WrestleMania 41. Additional reports indicate that Styles' current WWE contract is scheduled to conclude in February, and he has already expressed no intentions of renewing it.
Further confirmation came inadvertently from fellow superstar Shinsuke Nakamura, who spoiled the retirement plans in a since-deleted social media post, explicitly stating that Styles' career would culminate at the Royal Rumble event. This revelation has only added to the anticipation surrounding what could be a monumental moment in wrestling history.
The Road to Retirement: From Announcement to Final Feud
AJ Styles initially announced his retirement plans at the 2025 WWE Crown Jewel Premium Live Event, shortly before what was anticipated to be his final match against John Cena. Following this announcement, Styles dedicated himself to working with younger talent, helping elevate emerging stars on the main roster through high-profile matches and mentorship.
As 2025 drew to a close, Styles found himself embroiled in a heated rivalry with Gunther, who had been openly boasting about retiring John Cena. Their initial encounter saw Gunther emerge victorious, after which he provocatively challenged Styles to put his career on the line for a rematch. Styles accepted the ultimatum, setting the stage for what could be the dramatic conclusion to another legendary wrestling career at the 2026 Royal Rumble Premium Live Event.
The wrestling community now awaits with bated breath to see whether this will indeed mark the end of AJ Styles' phenomenal journey, or if he will defy the odds one final time.
