AJ Styles WWE Career Ends at Royal RumbleFuture After Retirement Match Remains Unclear
AJ Styles legendary WWE run came to a dramatic end at Royal Rumble: Riyadhbut what comes next for The Phenomenal One is still a mystery.
Following his loss to GUNTHER in a career-threatening match on January 31, PWInsider.com reports that Styles is not currently scheduled to appear on this Mondays Raw, leaving his post-match future with WWEand in pro wrestling overallentirely open-ended.
Styles had already made it clear that 2026 would be his final year in the ring. The Royal Rumble was long rumored to be a potential retirement stage, and WWE leaned all the way into that narrative. But after his emotional post-match momentwhere Styles teased leaving his gloves in the ring, only to put them back onthe story doesnt feel entirely closed.
His in-ring resume spans WCW, TNA, NJPW, ROH, and WWE, with titles and accolades everywhere he went: two-time WWE Champion, IWGP Heavyweight Champion, TNA World Champion, and one of the original pillars of TNAs X-Division. He recently revisited rivalries with CM Punk and Shinsuke Nakamura, building momentum toward what many assumed would be his final WWE bout.
But heres where things get interestingStyles recently filed trademarks for his ring name and logo, sparking speculation that he may not be fully done with wrestling. Whether he appears in another promotion like AEW, works behind the scenes, or walks away entirely is still unknown.
Is this truly the end for AJ Styles? Or just the beginning of his next chapteroutside of WWE? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know what you want to see next.
