Speculation over AJ Styles’ retirement plans has resurfaced, but the idea of his career ending at the Royal Rumble is not a sudden development inside WWE.
A now-deleted Instagram post from Shinsuke Nakamura claimed that Styles had told him he had “chosen the WWE Royal Rumble to be the site of his last match.” The post was shared following their bout at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Montreal on January 24 and was later removed, but its contents quickly circulated.
However, the claim aligns with long-standing internal expectations. PWInsider previously reported that WWE had been planning for Styles to conclude his in-ring career before WrestleMania 42, with the Royal Rumble discussed internally for months as the most likely setting for his farewell. Those plans were believed to be well established, making Nakamura’s post less of a revelation and more of an accidental confirmation.
Styles himself has repeatedly spoken about the physical toll of a career spanning more than two decades and the importance of choosing the moment for himself. In past interviews, he has said his body “does not recover” the way it once did and stressed that he wants to retire while still able to enjoy life away from the ring.
Styles is currently scheduled to face Gunther at the Royal Rumble on Saturday with his career on the line.
When Did AJ Styles Debut In WWE?
AJ Styles made his WWE debut at the Royal Rumble in January 2016, entering as a surprise participant to a major reaction from the crowd.
The moment marked the culmination of a long journey outside WWE, following acclaimed runs in TNA Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and immediately positioned Styles as a top-level addition to the company’s main roster.
