Gunther makes bold claim ahead of Royal Rumble

Gunther, formerly known as the Ring General and leader of Imperium, has made a bold claim on social media ahead of WWE Royal Rumble 2026. The 38-year-old wrestler will be competing in a marquee match at the PLE on January 31 in Saudi Arabia.

During last night’s edition of WWE RAW, AJ Styles confronted Gunther. Styles had made the veteran tap out in a singles match the week before, but the referee didn’t see it. Despite this, Gunther went on to win the match via pinfall after executing a Powerbomb on Styles.

Styles demanded a rematch against Gunther, who initially declined. However, Gunther stated that he would grant Styles his rematch at Royal Rumble 2026 if The Phenomenal One put his career on the line. After discussing with his wife, Styles agreed to the match later in the show.

In anticipation of his match against AJ Styles, Gunther took to Instagram to boast about being responsible for ending the careers of multiple stars. He mentioned tapping out John Cena in his retirement match at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13, 2025, as well as retiring WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg last year at SNME.

Former WWE star Mickie James expressed confusion over the choice of Gunther as John Cena’s final opponent. In an interview, James stated that she felt there were many other options on the roster and didn’t understand why Gunther was selected for the match.

The WWE Universe is now eagerly awaiting the outcome of the match between Gunther and AJ Styles at WWE Royal Rumble 2026. Will Styles be able to secure a victory, or will his in-ring career come to an abrupt end?

As the excitement builds for the upcoming event, fans can stay updated on all the latest WWE news from Sportskeeda. Be sure to choose Sportskeeda as your preferred source for all things WWE.