Fresh off his victory over Shinsuke Nakamura at Saturday Night’s Most important Event, AJ Styles is ready to face CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship within the most important event of “WWE Raw.” Styles opened the show on Monday and said it was no secret he plans to retire in 2026, even when he beats GUNTHER on the Royal Rumble. He said if he does take down “The Ring General,” he wants one other run as world champion.
That brought out Punk, who questioned Styles for putting his profession on the road against GUNTHER on Saturday. Styles told the champion he was coming off disrespectful and he knows he can beat each GUNTHER and Punk. Punk said that if Saturday doesn’t go well for Styles, he cannot ever prove that he can beat him.
Styles put forth the choice that if he and Punk fought on Monday and he beat him, then went on to beat GUNTHER and proceed his profession, that he could be considered primary contender for the World Heavyweight Championship. Punk briefly considered the concept, then said he declared himself a fighting champion back when he won the belt in November. He said in the event that they were going to fight on “Raw,” it might be for the title. “The Phenomenal One” accepted, and shortly after the segment, the match was confirmed to be the most important event by commentary.