Nakamura's Deleted Post Reveals AJ Styles Retirement Date

You can still see the post on Cageside Seats, and it suggests we aren't getting a year-long retirement tour. We are getting a finale much sooner: January 31 at the Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Post That Wasn't Supposed to Go Public

Nakamura and Styles delivered another clinic on Saturday night, showcasing the same technical wizardry that has defined their careers. After Styles secured the win, the two shared a fist bump—a silent nod to a history that spans continents.

But the real story came afterward in Nakamura's "diary" entry.

"During last year's Australia tour, at a house show in Melbourne, AJ gave a speech after the match," Nakamura wrote. "Listening to it, it was clear he was thanking the fans... it felt like he was hinting that retirement might not be that far away."

Then came the bombshell: Nakamura recounted a van ride during the subsequent tour of Japan. "I asked him, 'When are you going to retire?' He answered, 'The Royal Rumble. I've already decided.'"

Full Circle: From Tokyo to Riyadh

For long-time fans, this timeline carries an emotional weight that Nakamura clearly felt. He specifically referenced their shared history, which reached a peak a decade ago at Wrestle Kingdom 10 in the Tokyo Dome.

That night in 2016, Nakamura and Styles put on a masterpiece before both departed New Japan Pro-Wrestling for WWE. If Nakamura's leak is accurate, Styles' career will end almost exactly 10 years to the day after his shocking WWE debut at the 2016 Royal Rumble.

Why This Approach Makes Sense

John Cena's year-long farewell tour dominated much of 2025 before his December retirement. During that tour, Cena recalled a conversation with Styles where AJ made it clear he didn't want an extended goodbye tour—a stark contrast to Cena's approach.

Styles has publicly stated that 2026 would be his final year, wanting to walk away before his body could no longer perform at the level fans expect from "The Phenomenal One."

Retiring at the Royal Rumble—the very event where he first stepped through the WWE curtain—provides a poetic symmetry that's pure AJ Styles.

The Gunther Effect: AJ Styles Last Match?

WWE had already added the "Career vs. Respect" stipulation for the Rumble during the Jan. 19 edition of Raw. At the time, many assumed it was a standard storyline hurdle. Now, Nakamura's post reveals that Styles may have made this choice months ago.

Facing Gunther—the man who has recently specialized in ending legendary eras—gives Styles the physical, high-stakes exit he deserves.

Whether Nakamura's leak was a genuine emotional slip or a masterclass in viral storytelling, the stakes for Riyadh have shifted. On Jan. 31, we may be watching the final 3-count of one of the greatest careers in the history of the squared circle.