The stakes for the 2026 Royal Rumble have been raised significantly with the confirmation that AJ Styles will put his career on the line against Gunther. The stipulation has caught many fans off guard, as the expectation was that “The Phenomenal One” would receive a traditional farewell tour similar to John Cena, rather than a sudden, high-stakes deathmatch with limited buildup.
The booking creates a difficult corner for WWE creative. Gunther recently defeated John Cena in what was billed as Cena’s final match, making it highly unlikely that he would suffer a clean loss just weeks later. However, simply having Styles lose and retire without a proper sendoff is viewed by many as a disservice to his legendary career. According to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the company may be exploring a creative solution that protects both stars.
Meltzer suggests one potential direction could see Styles defeat Gunther in the singles match to save his career, only for Gunther to enter—and win—the Royal Rumble match later that same night. This scenario would allow Styles to remain active while immediately restoring Gunther’s dominance and setting him up for a main event spot at WrestleMania. Meltzer noted that “simply having Styles lose without any redemption doesn’t seem logical,” especially given the awareness backstage that this could legitimately be Styles’ final match if plans don’t evolve.
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