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AJ StylesRoyal Rumble Career Match Set as WWE Brands GUNTHER ‘Career Killer’

Triple H says Styles is treating 2026 as his final in-ring year, with weekly planning for farewell opponents.

Overview

  • AJ Styles faces GUNTHER on January 31 in Riyadh in a match where Styles must retire from WWE if he loses.
  • WWE’s Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque told ESPN that Styles has declared 2026 his last year and meets with him weekly to map desired opponents.
  • A January 26 USPTO filing shows WWE applied to trademark “Career Killer” for GUNTHER, underscoring his on-screen role after high-profile wins over John Cena and Goldberg.
  • Newsweek reports Shinsuke Nakamura’s Instagram diary appeared to reveal Styles told him he planned to retire at the Rumble, while WWE shared CM Punk’s emotional video reacting to a possible farewell.
  • Cageside Seats, citing Fightful, reports Styles’ WWE contract may expire in February, leaving open questions about what a WWE-enforced retirement would mean for potential appearances elsewhere.