AJ Styles’ legendary WWE run came to a heartbreaking conclusion at Royal Rumble 2026, as “The Phenomenal One” was defeated by GUNTHER after passing out in the Ring General’s sleeper hold.
Following the match, Styles briefly teased leaving his gloves in the ring — a traditional symbol of retirement — before ultimately putting them back on and taking in the ovation from the Riyadh crowd, choosing to acknowledge the fans one final time rather than quietly walking away.
After both men vowed on SmackDown to make the other submit, the match began with Styles targeting GUNTHER’s leg in hopes of setting up the Calf Crusher. GUNTHER quickly shifted the momentum, dumping Styles to the floor and unleashing his trademark brutality by slamming him into the announce desk and ring post.
Styles battled back with a well-timed Pele Kick and continued hunting for the Calf Crusher. GUNTHER countered with a powerbomb, but Styles stayed alive and managed to lock in the submission on a second attempt. The Ring General responded by wrapping Styles up in a sleeper, signaling the beginning of the endgame.
Momentum swung wildly as Styles connected with a Phenomenal Forearm and wiped GUNTHER out on the outside. Back in the ring, the two traded punishment, with GUNTHER’s relentless chops wearing Styles down. Still, Styles dug deep, landing a springboard 450 splash followed by a Styles Clash that came agonizingly close to ending the match.
GUNTHER avoided another Phenomenal Forearm and went back to the sleeper, only for Styles to counter with one of his own. Drawing from their controversial encounter in Germany, GUNTHER once again bent the rules, distracting the referee before delivering a low blow to regain control.
An increasingly frustrated GUNTHER unloaded with repeated chops as Styles tried to mount one last comeback. Before Styles could fire off another Pele Kick, GUNTHER snatched him up and cinched in the sleeper once more. Styles fought desperately, reaching toward the ropes with his fingertips just inches away, but GUNTHER refused to release the hold.
With nowhere left to go, Styles passed out in the center of the ring, forcing the referee to stop the match and officially ending his WWE career.
While the loss marked a devastating conclusion, the post-match reaction made it clear: AJ Styles left Royal Rumble 2026 not just as a defeated competitor, but as one of the most respected and celebrated performers in WWE history.
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