A major spoiler has potentially emerged regarding the outcome of the match between AJ Styles and Gunther at Royal Rumble 2026. The match carries a career-ending stipulation for “The Phenomenal One,” and a recent social media post by Shinsuke Nakamura suggests that Styles’ departure may be set in stone. Following Gunther’s declaration on the January 19 episode of Raw that he would only grant a rematch if Styles put his career on the line, Styles accepted the terms, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown on January 31.
Amidst speculation about Styles’ future in the industry, Shinsuke Nakamura may have inadvertently revealed the plan. With the two long-time rivals facing off on the January 24 Saturday Night’s Main Event special, Nakamura took to his Instagram Story to share a personal diary entry he wrote the night before their encounter.
In this entry, “The King of Strong Style” detailed a private conversation he had with Styles during WWE’s tour of Japan in October 2025. According to Nakamura, Styles explicitly stated his intention to hang up his boots at the Royal Rumble.
“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. The tour continued to Japan, and before the shows there, I asked him something. We were in a van on the way to the meet and greet. I asked him, ‘When are you going to retire?’ He answered, ‘The Royal Rumble, I’ve already decided.'”
Nakamura described his reaction to the revelation as one of shock, unsure if he vocalized his surprise or merely thought it. However, he seized the moment to make a request of his old friend. “Me… !!! Whether I actually said it out loud or just thought it for a split second, I’m not sure. But I remember it clearly. ‘Before you retire, I want to wrestle you one more time.’ AJ nodded.” This agreement seemingly led to their match at Saturday Night’s Main Event, fulfilling the promise made in that van.
Nakamura went on to reflect on their storied history, which dates back to their encounter at Wrestle Kingdom 10 in 2016 and continued through various battles in WWE. If Nakamura’s account is accurate, it strongly suggests that Styles intends to lose his match against Gunther at the Royal Rumble, thereby ending his wrestling career as stipulated. The revelation adds a somber and definitive tone to the upcoming Premium Live Event, transforming it from a storyline stipulation into what appears to be a genuine farewell tour.
With the Saturday Night’s Main Event match now in the books, the focus shifts entirely to the Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia. If Styles holds true to the words shared in Nakamura’s diary, fans may be witnessing the final week of one of the greatest careers in professional wrestling history.
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
