Key Highlights
- AJ Styles’ potential retirement match against GUNTHER at Royal Rumble 2026.
- GUNTHER’s history of career-ending matches in WWE, including with John Cena and Goldberg.
- The men’s Royal Rumble match featuring stars like Cody Rhodes, GUNTHER, Brock Lesnar, and Roman Reigns.
- Controversies surrounding AJ Styles’ loss to a YouTube personality at WrestleMania.
WWE Royal Rumble 2026 Preview: It’s Time to Say Goodbye to AJ Styles
The clock is ticking for WWE veteran AJ Styles. The 2026 Royal Rumble takes place today in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This event may very well be the end of an era.
Styles’ farewell match could come against GUNTHER, who last month made John Cena tap out in a retirement bout.
GUNTHER, it seems, has no respect for legacy wrestlers. He called Styles’ planned retirement match “a joke.”
The Phenomenal One vs. The Ring General
AJ and GUNTHER’s clash is more than just a match; it’s a battle of egos. GUNTHER, the Ring General, wants to send AJ out with a whimper instead of a bang. After all, GUNTHER has already sent John Cena and Goldberg into retirement.
Styles, however, is determined not to go down without a fight.
The Phenomenal One confronted GUNTHER about his disrespect for legacy wrestlers. Their skirmish ended in a Royal Rumble match, where GUNTHER’s cunning got the better of Styles. The Ring General won with a sudden powerbomb after escaping the Calf Crusher hold. Now they’re set to rematch at the Royal Rumble.
The Rest of the Card
Elsewhere on the card, Drew McIntyre defends his WWE Championship against Sami Zayn in a match that could see the latter finally win the title he’s been chasing for years. Zayn has never beaten McIntyre and hasn’t won the championship in Saudi Arabia. The outcome of this match is anyone’s guess.
The men’s Royal Rumble match promises to be unpredictable, with stars like Cody Rhodes, GUNTHER, Brock Lesnar, and Roman Reigns vying for glory. Lesnar and Reigns are not in any recent matches on Raw or SmackDown, making their involvement all the more intriguing.
Women’s Royal Rumble
The women’s Royal Rumble sees 17 confirmed participants, including Rhea Ripley, IYO SKY, Liv Morgan, and Becky Lynch. Liv Morgan is favored to win but could face betrayal from her Judgment Day stablemate Roxanne Perez.
Becky Lynch, the Intercontinental champion, will be watching closely as Charlotte Flair seeks a rematch at WrestleMania after turning on her friend Alexa Bliss in last year’s Rumble.
The Politics of WWE
WWE continues to support Saudi Arabia’s sportswashing campaign. The 2026 Royal Rumble is part of this effort, bringing one of the biggest events of the year to Riyadh for a hefty fee. This event might be remembered as both the end of AJ Styles’ career and Sami Zayn finally winning the WWE Championship.
Regardless of who wins tonight, the men’s Royal Rumble match stands out for its unpredictability, while the women’s bout is getting attention for restrictive ring gear rules in Saudi Arabia. Tune in to see how it all unfolds!
