Shinsuke Nakamura might have unintentionally revealed significant information before this weekend’s Royal Rumble event. In a brief Instagram Story that has since been deleted, Nakamura mentioned a past discussion with AJ Styles, quoting Styles as saying,
“The Royal Rumble. I’ve already decided,”
when questioned about his retirement plans. The timing and swift removal of the post sparked immediate speculation, heightened by the stakes surrounding Styles’ upcoming title match.
AJ Styles is scheduled to face Gunther at the Royal Rumble, with an official stipulation that if Styles loses, he must retire. This condition is confirmed and not merely a rumor, as WWE official Adam Pearce has verified. Nakamura’s post strongly hints that Styles may have come to terms with the possibility of retirement, potentially spoiling the result of one of Saturday’s most anticipated matches.
Context Behind AJ Styles’ Retirement Prospects
Gunther’s recent career path adds considerable context to Saturday’s bout. Over the past year, Gunther has developed a reputation as a “legend killer,” having previously ended the WWE careers of Goldberg in July and John Cena last month. Facing AJ Styles next aligns with his emerging role of concluding the eras of WWE’s iconic stars.
Many fans anticipated that Styles would undertake an extended farewell tour similar to John Cena’s retirement run in 2025, especially given Styles’ profound influence in WWE over the last decade. However, retiring at the Royal Rumble could create a more powerful narrative, marking a symbolic full-circle moment since Styles originally debuted at the 2016 Royal Rumble.
Implications of Nakamura’s Deleted Post and the Match Outcome
Though Nakamura’s message stops short of explicitly confirming the match outcome, it strongly suggests that both WWE and Styles are preparing for the Royal Rumble to serve as the end of Styles’ illustrious WWE run. When combining the retirement condition, Gunther’s dominant streak, and Styles’ personal timeline, the indications are increasingly clear.
If Styles does retire, this event will close an important chapter in professional wrestling history, representing the final act in the career of one of the sport’s most influential performers—a reality that many enthusiasts have yet to accept fully.
Whether Nakamura intended to disclose such information or it was accidental, the possibility that the secret is out cannot be denied.
Shinsuke Nakamura appears to have revealed that AJ Styles is legitimately retiring at the WWE Royal Rumble next week:
“I asked him,
"When are you going to retire?"He answered,
"The Royal Rumble. I've already decided."(IG) pic.twitter.com/8VFbdwh02Z
— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) January 25, 2026
