Get ready for a wrestling showdown that could mark the end of an era! AJ Styles is risking his entire WWE career in a high-stakes match against GUNTHER at the Royal Rumble 2026 in Saudi Arabia on January 31st. But before that potentially career-ending bout, WWE has thrown another curveball into the mix. And this is the part most people miss... SmackDown GM Nick Aldis invited Styles for a heart-to-heart on the January 23rd episode in Montreal, expressing concern over AJ’s decision to gamble his career. Styles, however, stood firm, vowing not to let GUNTHER force him into retirement like he did with John Cena. That’s when the plot thickened—Shinsuke Nakamura, Styles’ former rival, stepped in to challenge him. If AJ truly is the Phenomenal One capable of defeating GUNTHER, Nakamura wants proof, and he’s demanding it this Saturday (January 24th) at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Montreal. Styles accepted without hesitation, and Aldis made it official. On the surface, it seems WWE is squeezing in one last major match for Styles before his potential farewell in Saudi Arabia. But here's where it gets controversial... Is this a final test of Styles’ prowess, or a calculated move to soften him up for GUNTHER? The updated SNME card is stacked: WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY (c) vs. Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez, WWE Title #1 Contender 4-Way: Sami Zayn vs. Randy Orton vs. Damian Priest vs. Trick Williams, Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu, and the newly added AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura. Will this weekend’s match against Nakamura be the last victory of AJ Styles’ legendary career? Let’s spark some debate—do you think Styles can pull off a win against Nakamura and still have enough left in the tank to face GUNTHER? Or is this the beginning of the end? Share your thoughts in the comments, Cagesiders! For a full recap of the SmackDown action, check out our live blog here: https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/412919/wwe-smackdown-results-live-discussion-jan-23-2026-tag-team-title-match.
