AJ Styles, famously known as “The Phenomenal One,” officially retired from professional wrestling at Royal Rumble 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, bringing an end to one of the most remarkable WWE careers of the modern era.
Styles made his long-awaited WWE debut in 2016, entering the Royal Rumble match as the surprise No. 3 entrant. For years, he had been labeled as the biggest wrestling star to never sign with WWE, making his arrival one of the most shocking moments in company history. From the very beginning, Styles carried the confidence of a top star, calling himself “The Face That Runs the Place.”
He quickly rose to the main event scene, entering a heated rivalry with Dean Ambrose. At Backlash 2016, Styles turned heel and defeated Ambrose to win his first WWE World Championship. He later captured the title again in 2017 by defeating Jinder Mahal on SmackDown and held the championship for over 370 days, one of the longest reigns in modern WWE history.
Throughout his career, Styles delivered countless classic matches against legendary names. One of his most memorable encounters was against The Undertaker in the Boneyard Match, which turned out to be Undertaker’s final WWE match. In 2025, Styles announced that he would retire the following year. His final storyline saw him clash with “The Ring General” Gunther, who challenged Styles to put his career on the line.
The two faced off in a hard-hitting 20+ minute match at Royal Rumble 2026, where Gunther emerged victorious, officially ending the legendary WWE journey of AJ.
AJ Styles: Top 5 WWE Moments
1. Shocking WWE Debut
AJ stunned the wrestling world with his surprise debut at the 2016 Royal Rumble. The crowd reaction was unforgettable as Styles stood face-to-face with WWE Champion Roman Reigns. Although he was eliminated by Kevin Owens, his performance instantly proved that he belonged on the biggest stage.
2. Defeating John Cena at SummerSlam 2016
The rivalry between AJ Styles and John Cena is considered one of WWE’s finest. Their SummerSlam 2016 clash was a technical masterpiece, and Styles shocked fans by pinning John Cena clean. This victory firmly established Styles as the top star of the SmackDown brand.
3. Winning His First World Championship
Less than a year after his debut, Styles reached the pinnacle of WWE. At Backlash 2016, he defeated Dean Ambrose to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, marking his arrival as a true main-event superstar.
4. The Iconic Paris Crowd Moment
One of WWE’s most unforgettable crowd moments occurred at Backlash 2024 in Paris, where Styles faced Cody Rhodes for the WWE Undisputed Championship. Before the match began, over 16,000 fans erupted into a loud chant praising Styles in French. The moment lasted over 10 minutes, forcing the wrestlers to pause and simply absorb the atmosphere.
5. Becoming a Grand Slam Champion
AJ completed his WWE Grand Slam at WrestleMania 37 in Tampa, Florida. Teaming with Omos, Styles defeated The New Day to win the Raw Tag Team Championships, adding the final piece to his already legendary WWE résumé.
FAQs
Q. Is AJ Styles still in the WWE?
A. No, AJ wrestled his final WWE match at Royal Rumble 2026, and his contract officially expired on February 2, 2026.
Q. Who retired AJ Styles?
A. Gunther, also known as “The Career Killer,” defeated AJ Styles at Royal Rumble 2026, ending his WWE career.
Q. Is AJ Styles a Grand Slam Champion in WWE?
A. Yes, AJ Styles has won all major championships in WWE, making him a Grand Slam Champion.
Q. Has AJ Styles ever main-evented WrestleMania?
A. No, despite his legendary career, AJ Styles never main-evented a WrestleMania.
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