Breaking: Shinsuke Nakamura Spoils AJ Styles’ WWE Retirement Date

AJ Styles’ WWE retirement date has seemingly been confirmed.

Several weeks ago, The Phenomenal One announced his plans to end his in-ring career in 2026. He kicked off the year with a feud with Gunther after The Ring General retired John Cena at Saturday Night’s Main Event in December.

Styles and Gunther went head-to-head on the January 12 episode of RAW. Although The Phenomenal One forced his opponent to tap out, the referee did not see it. The match then ended in The Ring General’s victory.

The 48-year-old legend later challenged Gunther for another match at Royal Rumble. Although the latter initially turned him down, he later accepted under the condition that Styles put his career on the line.

AJ Styles Retiring At WWE Royal Rumble?

Ahead of his clash with Gunther, AJ Styles went one-on-one against his iconic rival and real-life friend, Shinsuke Nakamura, possibly for one final time at Saturday Night’s Main Event last night. The two put on an impressive performance before The Phenomenal One went over.

After the match, Nakamura took to Instagram to share his diary from the day before their match. He revealed that Styles had previously told him that he was retiring at Royal Rumble.

During last year’s Australia tour, at a house show in Melbourne, AJ gave a speech after the match. Listening to it, it was clear he was thanking the fans. But somehow, it also 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.

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.

🚨| Shinsuke Nakamura just confirmed that AJ Styles is indeed retiring at the Royal Rumble next week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“I asked him, ‘When are you going to retire?’ He answered, ‘At the Royal Rumble. I’ve already decided.’” pic.twitter.com/6gCvPGzRgc

— EliteRockerz 𝕏 (@EliteClubS0B) January 25, 2026

Also read:AJ Styles Recreates Iconic Moment After 10 Years At WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event

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