AJ Kinds’ skilled wrestling future is now shrouded in uncertainty. On Saturday, Gunther beat Kinds on the 2026 Royal Rumble. The match stipulated that Kinds would retire from WWE ought to he lose. The aftermath raised questions on what precisely which means.
Final yr, Kinds introduced that he’d retire from skilled wrestling in 2026. His oath was examined sooner than anybody anticipated within the stakes of their Rumble match. On Saturday, the superstars informed a narrative a few defiant, world-class veteran attempting to beat an elite expertise of their bodily prime. Kinds put forth a willful effort earlier than finally succumbing to Gunther’s sleeper maintain.
Kinds acquired a standing ovation after the loss. Submit-match, Kinds teased inserting his iconic gloves within the ring — a symbolic retirement gesture — however refused to after objections from the followers. Kinds positioned the gloves again on his fingers, elevating his arms triumphantly. Kinds soaked within the adoration earlier than strolling away reluctantly, preventing again tears.
Kinds’ half-commitment raised questions on what a WWE retirement means. He might depart for TNA, a WWE-partnered promotion for which Kinds was as soon as a cornerstone. If his WWE contract lapsed, he might doubtlessly leap to a different promotion like AEW. His alleged retirement is also a part of a extra elaborate WWE storyline.
Regardless of the case, Saturday’s end result furthered Gunther’s status as a modern-day legend killer. In six months, he is gained retirement matches in opposition to Goldberg, John Cena, and Kinds.