CM Punk’s Emotional Take on AJ Styles Potentially Retiring from WWE at Royal Rumble 2026

CM Punk isn't ready to fathom that AJ Styles might actually retire from WWE this Saturday itself.

CM Punk’s Emotional Take on AJ Styles Potentially Retiring from WWE at Royal Rumble 2026

CM Punk and AJ Styles (via- WWE)

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CM Punk defended the World Heavyweight title against AJ Styles in one of those dream matches that every wrestling fan had been waiting for. It happened on a night that could very well have been Styles’ last appearance on Raw, with his career on the line this Saturday against Gunther at the Royal Rumble. And Punk, pretty much like the fanbase, isn’t ready to accept it.

In an exclusive backstage video released by WWE across its digital platforms, a fatigued CM Punk could be heard saying he didn’t want to believe that Styles has had his final match on the red brand. ‘The Best in the World’ found it agonizingly ironic that 2026 would be the year of AJ Styles, and it’s barely February yet. “This can’t be the end of The Phenomenal One,” said Punk.

Addressing AJ’s Royal Rumble opponent, the former AEW star said that although he beat Gunther last year, he felt he just survived him. ‘The Second City Saint’ wasn’t sure about Styles putting down ‘The Ring General’, especially when the stakes are this high. Punk brought up John Cena retiring from WWE last December and added that it was hard to fathom losing both Cena and Styles in a two-month span.

Some fan theories also suggest that ‘The Face That Runs the Place’ might just be leaving WWE and could join its partner promotion TNA, which was his hunting ground in the past. The 48-year-old even earned the moniker of ‘Mr. TNA’ by virtue of the iconic run he had with Total Nonstop Action before joining WWE. Signing a short-term deal with TNA keeps the doors of Styles wrestling in WWE open until he decides to call it quits. It’s not something that’s been reported, but it could certainly be a possibility.

What CM Punk said to AJ Styles after Raw went off air this week?

The ending to an otherwise decent CM Punk vs. AJ Styles match on this week’s Raw was greatly underwhelming. Finn Balor crashed a gritty main event between two veterans and caused an immediate DQ. ‘The Prince’ would then beat up ‘The Best in the World’ to stand tall. After the show went off-air, Styles grabbed a mic to address the crowd and show some love to Punk by calling him his brother.

AJ Styles and CM Punk
AJ Styles and CM Punk [via- WWE]

They hugged it out in the middle of that ring. ‘The Straight Edge Superstar’ had some words for ‘The Phenomenal One’ afterwards. Punk said he didn’t know what would happen at the Royal Rumble when AJ puts his career on the line against Gunther. However, just like every single fan out there, Punk would be glued to the screen to watch the action unfold.

‘The Cookie Master’ said that it’s been a privilege to not only know Styles but also to be able to call him a friend and also share the ring with the 2-time WWE Champion. Punk hoped that Saturday doesn’t end a career as legendary as Styles’, but if it does, the Chicago-born wrestler affirmed that AJ has had an incredible one.

Almost every wrestling fan is hoping for Styles to at least stay in WWE until WrestleMania 42 and retire there. But bowing out at the Royal Rumble would be poetic for ‘The Georgia Pitbull’, as he had debuted for WWE at the same event a decade ago. It might purely be his call to ride off into the sunset that way.

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