Get ready, wrestling fans, because AJ Styles is putting his entire career on the line! That's right, the phenomenal one is facing a career-threatening match against Gunther at the WWE Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on January 31st. If Styles loses, he retires. This announcement has sent shockwaves through the wrestling world, especially considering Styles' stated intention to retire sometime in 2026.
This high-stakes match came about after a heated confrontation on the January 12th episode of Raw. Gunther, after a controversial victory over Styles (thanks to a low blow and powerbomb), refused a rematch. Styles, attempting to provoke Gunther, called him out, leading to Gunther's ultimate challenge: a match where Styles' career is on the line. After consulting with his wife, Styles accepted the terms.
But here's where it gets controversial... Gunther has already defeated and seemingly retired wrestling legends like Goldberg and John Cena. Now, he's aiming to add Styles to his list of conquests. The storyline has Styles enraged by Gunther's disrespect, making this match a personal battle.
The Royal Rumble card is shaping up to be explosive! The event, starting at 2 p.m. Eastern time, will feature the Men's and Women's Royal Rumble matches, and Drew McIntyre defending the WWE Championship against a challenger to be determined. Gunther will also be pulling double duty, as he's confirmed as an entrant in the Men's Rumble match.
Here's the updated card:
- Men’s Royal Rumble match
- Women’s Royal Rumble match
- WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defends against either Randy Orton, Damian Priest, Sami Zayn, or Trick Williams (will be determined at Saturday Night’s Main Event on January 24)
- Gunther vs. AJ Styles (Styles forced to retire if he loses)
This is a huge deal! What do you think about AJ Styles putting his career on the line? Will he pull off a victory, or will Gunther continue his path of destruction? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
