AJ Styles

The legendary in-ring career of AJ Styles reached its definitive conclusion on January 31, 2026, at the **Royal Rumble** in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In a match where Styles put his career on the line against the “Ring General” **Gunther**, “The Phenomenal One” delivered a performance for the ages. Despite splitting his forearm open early and taking a punishing back suplex onto the commentary desk, Styles mounted several heart-wrenching comebacks, twice locking Gunther in the Calf Crusher and even hitting a Styles Clash that nearly secured the win.

However, the sheer brutality of Gunther proved too much. The end came when Gunther caught a Phenomenal Forearm attempt mid-air and transitioned into a sleeper hold. Styles refused to tap out, eventually losing consciousness, forcing the referee to stop the match. Following the bout, Styles received a thunderous “Thank You Styles” ovation from the crowd, symbolically removal of his gloves before ultimately putting them back on for one last exit under his own terms. For more on his legacy, visit our pro wrestling news homepage.

Styles departs the squared circle as one of the most decorated performers in history. A two-time WWE Champion and Triple Crown/Grand Slam winner, his ten-year tenure in WWE redefined the “work-rate” standard of the main roster. From his iconic debut at the 2016 Royal Rumble to his final stand in 2026, Styles remained the elite benchmark for everyone on the official roster.