AJ Styles Loses Career Threatening Match at WWE Royal Rumble 2026

WWE
Jan 31, 2026

Saturday’s WWE Royal Rumble 2026 event at the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia featured Gunther defeating AJ Styles in a Career Threatening match. This match featured the stipulation of if Styles lost, then he must retire from wrestling.

Following the match, an emotional Styles regained consciousness after Gunther had won with a Sleeper Hold and realized what happened, a tearful Styles proceeded to take off his gloves and was about to place them in the middle of the ring to symbolize his retirement from his in-ring career. Styles then had a change of mind and put his gloves back on and posed in the ring to a roaring ovation from the crowd. Styles then left the ring and started to walk to the back only to stop and got back into the ring for one last time and posed in the corner.

Trending
  1. WWE Royal Rumble 2026 Results – Jan. 31, 2026 – Men’s & Women’s Royal Rumbles, Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn, AJ Styles vs. GuntherWWE Royal Rumble 2026 Results – Jan. 31, 2026 – Men’s & Women’s Royal Rumbles, Drew…
  2. Various: AAA Cruiserweight Title #1 Contender Four-Way Match Set for 1/31 AAA TV Show, Steve Maclin on Him Getting The Fired Briefcase from Feast or Fired Match & Being Fired from TNA, Full List of Winners of 2025 Pro Wrestling Illustrated AwardsVarious: AAA Cruiserweight Title #1 Contender Four-Way Match Set for 1/31 AAA TV Show, Steve…
  3. Ava Announces Departure From WWEAva Announces Departure From WWE
  4. WWE SmackDown Results – Jan. 30, 2026 – Drew McIntyre & Sami Zayn Go Face-To-Face, WWE United States Title Open ChallengeWWE SmackDown Results – Jan. 30, 2026 – Drew McIntyre & Sami Zayn Go Face-To-Face, WWE…
  5. WWE: WWE Issues Statement on Ava's Departure, Royal Rumble 2026 Reportedly Not Available to ESPN Subscribers on YouTube TV & Comcast Xfinity, Roman Reigns on Young Talents in WWE Haven't Advanced or Evolved To Get Over As Big StarsWWE: WWE Issues Statement on Ava’s Departure, Royal Rumble 2026 Reportedly Not…
  6. AEW: Ricochet on Idea of AJ Styles Joining AEW After His WWE Retirement, Je'Von Evans on His Past Experience in AEW & AEW Gave Him The Opportunities for His Career That Led To His WWE Signing, Backstage Update on Tommaso Ciampa's AEW SigningAEW: Ricochet on Idea of AJ Styles Joining AEW After His WWE Retirement, Je’Von Evans…