AJ Styles lost to Gunther at WWE Royal Rumble, ending, at the very least, his WWE career. Though Styles lost the match in which he put his career on the line, he did not leave his gloves or boots in the ring.
He teased leaving his gloves in the ring after taking them off, but put them back on.
After the match, wrestlers from around the world reacted to AJ Styles retiring from WWE.
Phenomenal is an understatement. Respect is earned and few are more worthy of universal industry wide respect than @AJStylesOrg. Thank you AJ for all you’ve done for wrestling. From anyone who’s seen you and those lucky enough to share canvas with you.
— John Cena (@JohnCena) January 31, 2026
#RoyalRumble #WWE #TheOc pic.twitter.com/uwgoAPtQ6h
— Big Meech 미친 (@MiaYim) January 31, 2026
Phenomenal
— Will Ospreay • ウィル・オスプレイ (@WillOspreay) January 31, 2026
I hope the rumors are true 🤑🤞🏽
— Último Moné (@MercedesVarnado) January 31, 2026
AJ Styles
— Chris Bey (@DashingChrisBey) January 31, 2026
If this is the end of his “WWE Career”
And we get a year of AJ Styles on the Indies (AEW, TNA, New Japan etc)
Boy howdy, my heart.#royalrumble
— Flash Morgan Webster (@Flash_Morgan) January 31, 2026
Thank you #AJStyles 🙏
— Scarlett Bordeaux (@Lady_Scarlett13) January 31, 2026
Thank you, AJ Styles 👏 — @Arda #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/hHdr50Z4DI
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 31, 2026
Check out the complete history of AJ Styles in TNA!
WATCH: https://t.co/O82kqrLJOZ pic.twitter.com/j7fizGnOl5
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 31, 2026
Thank you @AJStylesOrg 👊🏿👊🏿👊🏿 pic.twitter.com/KQJpFVA6yZ
— Jordan omogbehin (@TheGiantOmos) January 31, 2026
🫡🫡🫡 pic.twitter.com/C7bdXivsT1
— LEON SLATER (@LEONSLATER_) January 31, 2026
Dominik Mysterio reacts to AJ Styles losing at the WWE Royal Rumble. pic.twitter.com/ZNJE8hKlAE
— Fightful Wrestling (@Fightful) January 31, 2026
Thank you #AJStyles …
For everything you did for wrestling…
And personally for me …
He’s always been Phenomenal in and out of the ring …#RoyalRumble …
.@AJStylesOrg … pic.twitter.com/kOwn154xsS
— James Ellsworth (@realellsworth) January 31, 2026
A PHENOMENAL career 🤘
Thanks for all the memories over the years, AJ Styles! 🫡 pic.twitter.com/0iFJMdCMIg
— MLB (@MLB) January 31, 2026
When I was 1 year in the business I did some extra work, there was a knock on the extras locker room door later in the night with @AJStylesOrg pulling me out to give me some great advice that let me know I was on the right path. He inspired an entire generation of wrestler and…
— Blake Christian ブレイク・クリスチャン (@_BlakeChristian) January 31, 2026
— Mike SANTANA🇵🇷 (@Santana_Proud) January 31, 2026
Fans can find Fightful’s coverage of WWE Royal Rumble here. Check out the post-show podcast by clicking here.
