AJ Styles decided to conclude his WWE career at the Royal Rumble event on January 31, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, rather than waiting for WrestleMania 42. Known as the Phenomenal One, Styles faced Gunther in a career-ending match, officially retiring from full-time wrestling. This choice defied widespread expectations that he would retire on wrestling’s biggest stage, WrestleMania.
In a farewell vlog released shortly before the match, Styles shared the personal and practical factors behind this decision, revealing how a significant injury influenced the timing of his retirement.
Injury Recovery Influenced Styles’ Retirement Timing
Styles had been sidelined since October 2024 following a serious foot injury, which many thought might prematurely halt his wrestling career. After working hard on recovery, he returned to action but realized that wrestling only for a brief period to reach WrestleMania might undermine his legacy.
Everybody wants to retire at WrestleMania, the biggest show of the year that we do. I was going to do exactly that, but I just came back from an injury that was supposed to retire me. It retires most. Once I got healed up and was comfortable enough running and doing what I need to do to be AJ Styles, it just didn’t feel right to come back for two months just to retire,
Styles explained.
Returning at the Royal Rumble, the event where he first debuted in WWE in 2016, felt symbolically appropriate to him. He aimed to complete his WWE journey in a way that honored his past while allowing him to leave on his own terms.
It didn’t seem right, and I thought, what a way to be able to leave on the pay-per-view where you debuted. Hopefully, at the end of this match, I stand up on my own two feet, and I throw up the P1 that is on my gloves one more time, and I walk,
Styles said.
Final Match Ends with Emotional Moment Against Gunther
The match concluded with Styles losing by submission after passing out in a sleeper hold, bringing down the curtain on his full-time wrestling career. This moment not only closed a significant chapter for Styles but also addressed rumors about a potential move to the AEW promotion, as his WWE contract was nearing its end. His retirement at Royal Rumble signaled a definitive conclusion to his time in WWE.
The Lasting Impact of Styles’ Retirement Decision
AJ Styles’ decision to retire at the Royal Rumble, instead of the traditional WrestleMania farewell, highlights the challenges athletes face when balancing personal health and professional legacy. By choosing to retire in the same event where he made his WWE debut, Styles brought his career full circle, providing a meaningful bookend to his WWE journey. Fans and industry insiders are left reflecting on his exceptional contributions to wrestling and anticipating what he might pursue next beyond the ring.
