AJ Styles Loses To Gunther With Career On The Line At 2026 Royal Rumble

The 2026 Royal Rumble took place at Riyadh Season Stadium in the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This was a massive show in Saudi Arabia, and each match on the card mattered.

One of the major matches on the card saw AJ Styles face Gunther with Styles’ career on the line. This is very intriguing because AJ Styles has already confirmed that 2026 will be his last year in the ring.

The rivalry picked up after Gunther forced John Cena to tap out at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13, 2025, then spent the following weeks on Raw bragging about it. AJ Styles confronted Gunther more than once, and the tension finally turned physical on the Raw on Netflix Anniversary Show, when Styles slapped the taste out of Gunther’s mouth.

They wrestled the following week, but the finish caused problems. Gunther faked tapping out while trapped in Styles’ Calf Crusher, out of the referee’s view. Styles released the hold, then Gunther hit a low blow and a powerbomb to win.

After that, Styles challenged Gunther to a rematch at the Royal Rumble. Gunther agreed only if Styles put his career on the line. Styles accepted after speaking with his wife, and Raw GM Adam Pearce made the match official.

This match went on second during the show, right after the Women’s Royal Rumble match that Liv Morgan won. Fans were ready to see if AJ Styles’ retirement tour would end suddenly at the same event where he debuted a decade ago.

Fans in Saudi Arabia were all behind AJ Styles in this match, but Gunther opened up the contest by colliding into Styles. He beat AJ around the ring, and he didn’t let up at all. AJ Styles’ left forearm was cut open as he landed on the annonuce table, and Gunther soon had his opponent’s blood on his hands.

AJ Styles fought back, and he pulled off a near fall along the way. However, Gunther didn’t lay down without a big fight. Gunther was able to nail a powerbomb for a near fall of his own. Styles was able to lock in a Calf Crusher next, but Gunther fought out eventually. Eventually, AJ nailed a springboard 450 splash with a Styles Clash for a very close near fall.

Gunther got on a sleeper hold and AJ Styles tried hard to fight out of it. Fans were pulling for him in a big way as he worked to get to the ropes. This match got really ugly in a hurry as Styles fell limp. Then the referee called for the bell, and AJ Styles’ career was over.

After the match, AJ Styles received a ton of chants. Then he teased taking his gloves off and putting them in the ring. He put his gloves back on and did his pose. Fans cheered in a big way. Then Styles got out of the ring before he paused, turned back, and then he posed at the turnbuckle once again. They said “thank you AJ” on commentary and gave the impression that his career is over, but putting the gloves back on may have been a sign that he’s not done yet.

What’s your take on AJ Styles and Gunther’s match at the Royal Rumble? Do you think that this match lived up to the hype? Let us know what you think in the comments section!