AJ Styles Retires Following Defeat to Gunther at Royal Rumble
AJ Styles has officially retired from wrestling after his defeat to Gunther at the Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This match held significant stakes; if Styles lost, he was required to retire from the ring. During the bout, he succumbed to a sleeper hold, prompting the referee to end the match.
AJ Styles’ Career Milestones
Styles’ loss marks the conclusion of his storied ten-year tenure with WWE. Before joining WWE, he built an impressive reputation in TNA and New Japan Pro Wrestling. He debuted at the 2016 Royal Rumble, earning loud cheers from the crowd.
Throughout his career in WWE, Styles secured the WWE Championship twice, amassing a total of 511 days as champion. His reigns began with a victory over Dean Ambrose at Backlash 2016, and his second reign saw him hold the title for over a year starting in November 2017. He is also recognized as a Grand Slam Champion, having held the Intercontinental Championship, United States Championship, and Raw Tag Team Championship.
Match Overview: Gunther vs. AJ Styles
- Date: January 28, 2023
- Event: Royal Rumble
- Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The stipulation leading into this match arose after Gunther defeated Styles under controversial circumstances during the January 12 episode of Raw. Seeking to reclaim his honor, Styles challenged Gunther, agreeing to the risky condition of putting his career on the line.
Match Highlights
The crowd in Riyadh fully supported Styles from the match’s beginning. Gunther utilized his physical strength, inflicting damage on Styles, especially with powerful chops and a back suplex that left Styles injured.
Despite the onslaught, Styles showed resilience. He attempted to weaken Gunther by targeting his legs with the Calf Crusher, succeeding twice. However, Gunther managed to escape the holds each time.
In a near victory, Styles countered a powerbomb attempt into a Styles Clash, but Gunther kicked out. As the match reached its climax, Gunther resorted to underhanded tactics, executing a low blow followed by a powerful maneuver.
Ultimately, in a desperate move, Gunther intercepted Styles during a Phenomenal Forearm attempt, transitioning into a sleeper hold. Styles fought valiantly but eventually lost consciousness, leading the referee to call the match.
Post-Match Reaction
After the match, the audience in the Riyadh Season Arena showed their appreciation for Styles by chanting his name. In a poignant moment, Styles stood in the ring, absorbing the crowd’s adoration. He briefly contemplated leaving his gloves in the ring as a symbolic farewell but ultimately decided to put them back on. Before exiting, he offered his signature “P1” hand signal one last time.
AJ Styles’ retirement closes a remarkable chapter in wrestling history. His contributions to the sport will be remembered by fans around the world.
