Gunther beat AJ Styles in their big match, with Styles’ career on the line, so Gunther is the one who won.

Who Won Between AJ Styles and Gunther?

Quick Scoop

In their high‑stakes showdown where AJ Styles put his WWE career on the line, Gunther defeated Styles by putting him out with a sleeper hold, forcing the referee to stop the match. Because of the stipulation, this loss effectively meant AJ Styles had to retire from in‑ring competition in WWE.

What Happened In The Match?

  • Styles hit big signature moves like the Styles Clash and came close to winning, but Gunther kicked out.
  • Gunther eventually locked in his sleeper hold again, and Styles went limp, leading to a referee stoppage.
  • After the match, Styles got a standing ovation and even teased leaving his gloves in the ring before putting them back on after the crowd urged him to.

Why This Match Was A Big Deal

  • The match took place at the 2026 Royal Rumble and was billed as a “career‑threatening” match for AJ Styles.
  • Styles had already said 2026 would be his last year, so fans knew a loss might really mean the end.
  • Gunther’s win added to his storyline reputation as a “legend killer,” having already retired other major names.

Forum / Fan Discussion Vibes

Many fans are calling it a fitting, emotional send‑off for a legend, even though they hated seeing AJ lose.

  • Some praise the storytelling: veteran icon fighting to the end against a dominant Ring General.
  • Others speculate if AJ might still appear in some form (non‑wrestling role or one‑off) despite the retirement stipulation.

Latest News & Trending Context

  • Royal Rumble 2026 and “AJ Styles vs Gunther” have been heavily discussed across wrestling news sites and fan forums since the event.
  • Clips of Styles’ post‑match moment in the ring are circulating widely, with fans treating it as the emotional farewell of a modern great.

TL;DR: Gunther won the match against AJ Styles, using a sleeper hold to end a career‑threatening bout that has, in storyline terms, retired Styles from WWE in early 2026.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.