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AJ Styles Sets CM Punk Title Match on Raw as Royal Rumble ‘Career’ Clash With GUNTHER Looms

A deleted Shinsuke Nakamura post alongside insider contract reporting has intensified speculation over a Royal Rumble farewell for Styles.

Overview

  • Styles opened Raw in Toronto, reiterated that 2026 is his final year, and agreed to face CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship in Monday’s main event.
  • He is confirmed to put his career on the line against GUNTHER at WWE Royal Rumble on January 31 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  • Nakamura’s now-deleted Instagram diary recounted Styles telling him, “The Royal Rumble. I’ve already decided,” a post multiple outlets captured before its removal.
  • PWInsider and Fightful report Styles’ WWE contract expires around February 2026, with the Rumble widely viewed as a possible last match, though final plans remain unconfirmed.
  • GUNTHER’s recent portrayal as a ‘career killer’—including making John Cena tap in Cena’s retirement match—frames the stakes, as Cena also posted a silent Instagram tribute to Styles.