AJ Styles’ WWE career concludes with a dramatic loss, prompting a heartfelt response from John Cena that quickly gained widespread attention online. Styles revealed his retirement plans late last year, setting 2026 as the timeline for his final bout. His exit arrived sooner than anticipated during the Royal Rumble event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he fell to Gunther via technical submission.
The Decisive Match Against Gunther
Gunther solidifies his reputation as a formidable force in WWE, having previously forced both John Cena and Goldberg into retirement in 2025. In this high-stakes encounter, Styles staked his career on the outcome and succumbed to Gunther’s signature sleeper hold, mirroring the finishes of those prior matches. Following the defeat, Styles stood in the ring’s center to soak in the crowd’s applause, echoing Cena’s post-match gesture after his own loss to Gunther. Notably, Styles retained his gloves, fueling brief speculation about a potential change of heart, though subsequent developments confirm his departure.
Cena’s Emotional Social Media Message
Former rivals Cena and Styles delivered some of WWE’s most memorable contests, including their last clash at Crown Jewel 2025 during Cena’s farewell series. Cena emerged victorious in that match, his final premium live event win, and even arranged a custom ring introduction for Styles voiced by announcer Alicia Taylor.
Cena expressed deep admiration in a recent tweet, starting with Styles’ moniker: “Phenomenal is an understatement.” He added, “Respect is earned and few are more worthy of universal industry-wide respect than @AJStylesOrg. Thank you AJ for all you’ve done for wrestling. From anyone who’s seen you and those lucky enough to share canvas with you.”
Styles’ Illustrious WWE Journey
After establishing himself as a TNA Wrestling icon until 2014, Styles achieved success in Japan before joining WWE at the 2016 Royal Rumble. Over his decade with the promotion, the Atlanta-born wrestler secured Grand Slam Champion status and remains a prime candidate for the WWE Hall of Fame.
Official Confirmation of Styles’ Exit
Post-match comments from Styles sparked uncertainty, but WWE post-show analyst Peter Rosenberg clarified the situation. “So just to be clear, ’cause I know AJ went back into the ring, he went up there, took in a second round of applause. I spoke to AJ. It is very much the end. This is it for AJ Styles. He is not the kind of guy who goes back on his word when he says he’s having a match with his career on the line,” Rosenberg stated.
