Subhojeet Mukherjee on January 25, 2026
AJ Styles already made peace with retirement months ago—at least, that’s what Shinsuke Nakamura just revealed in a now-deleted Instagram Story that’s blowing up the internet.
Styles will face GUNTHER at Royal Rumble 2026 in a career-ending match, where a loss means AJ walks away from wrestling for good. While most fans assumed the stipulation was just drama, Nakamura’s message changes everything.
The reveal came from a diary entry Nakamura wrote and posted after their match on Saturday Night’s Main Event on January 24. In the entry, Nakamura recalls a private conversation the two shared during WWE’s October 2025 tour of Japan
“During last year’s Australia tour, at a house show in Melbourne, AJ gave a speech after the match,” Nakamura wrote. “Listening to it, it was clear he was thanking the fans. But somehow, it felt like he was hinting that retirement might not be that far away.”
That tour continued into Japan, where the two longtime rivals had a personal conversation on the way to a meet-and-greet event. Nakamura’s reaction was one of disbelief—and he made sure to let Styles know he wanted one more match.
“I asked him, ‘When are you going to retire?’” Nakamura recalled. “He answered, ‘The Royal Rumble, I’ve already decided.’ Before you retire, I want to wrestle you one more time,” he remembered saying. “AJ nodded.”
The post closes with Nakamura reflecting on their legendary 2016 match at Wrestle Kingdom 10 and the respect they’ve carried through WWE. No promo. No press conference. Just a heartfelt admission that AJ’s end date was never a mystery—it was already marked on the calendar.
Royal Rumble 2026 goes down January 31 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. If Nakamura’s post holds up, that match with GUNTHER won’t just be AJ’s last shot—it’ll be the end of a legacy.
Do you believe AJ Styles is really retiring at Royal Rumble 2026? Or is this all part of the buildup for a shocking twist? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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