Get ready for an explosive wrestling showdown! AJ Styles, a true legend in the WWE, is about to embark on a crucial match that could define the end of his career. But here's the twist: WWE is squeezing in one last big fight for AJ before his potential retirement.
Our expert analyst, Cain A. Knight, a wrestling enthusiast since the '80s, breaks it down. AJ is risking it all on January 31st at Royal Rumble 2026 in Saudi Arabia against GUNTHER. But before that, SmackDown GM Nick Aldis, concerned about AJ's decision, invited him for a chat. AJ, determined to avoid the fate of John Cena, reiterated his stance.
And this is where it gets interesting. Shinsuke Nakamura, AJ's former rival, showed up, challenging AJ to prove himself. If AJ is still the Phenomenal One, he'll face Shinsuke this weekend (January 24th) at Saturday Night's Main Event in Montreal. AJ accepted, and now we have a mouth-watering match-up.
But here's the controversial part: is WWE trying to milk AJ's popularity by scheduling this match? Or is it a genuine opportunity for AJ to go out on a high?
Here's the full card for SNME on January 24th:
- 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
- AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Will AJ's final win be against Nakamura in Montreal? Share your thoughts, wrestling fans!
Stay tuned for all the SmackDown results in our live blog (https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/412919/wwe-smackdown-results-live-discussion-jan-23-2026-tag-team-title-match).
Don't miss this historic moment in wrestling!
