AJ Styles may have lost his career-threatening match at the 2026 Royal Rumble, but he is not entirely ruling out the possibility of stepping back into the ring one more time in the future.
AJ Styles’ loss to Gunther was billed with the stipulation that his WWE career would be over if he was defeated. After being choked out, Styles appeared ready to leave his gloves in the ring, a traditional symbol of retirement. Instead, he put them back on before exiting, a moment that immediately fuelled speculation about whether the “Phenomenal One” was truly finished.
Speaking on What’s Your Story? with Stephanie McMahon, Styles admitted that even he is unsure what that moment ultimately signified.
“I don’t know. I don’t know,” Styles said. “Never say never, right? That’s the saying. I think everybody’s allowed at least once coming out of retirement. I’m not saying that I’ll do it anytime soon.”
What Did AJ Styles Say Could Bring Him Out Of Retirement?
AJ Styles went on to explain that family could play a role in any potential return, noting that one of his sons has already shown interest in following him into the wrestling business.
“What if my son wrestles? The opportunity to tag with him once. You never know,” Styles added. “There’ll be a time when the gloves never go back on and it may be now, but we’ll see.”
Styles revealed that his second-oldest son is currently training with him, while he would not be surprised if his daughter or eldest son eventually pursued wrestling as well. Of his four children, only his youngest son has shown no interest in sport.
“I never thought I would want my kids to wrestle, but it’s way different than it’s ever been and a lot better than it’s ever been,” Styles said. “It’s done right at this point. So I’d be happy if they wrestled.”
While the Royal Rumble loss felt abrupt, it had been widely known that Styles planned to retire at some point in 2026. WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque has already expressed hope that Styles will continue contributing to WWE in a behind-the-scenes role, even if his in-ring career has indeed reached its end.
For now, Styles’ future remains deliberately open-ended, fitting for a performer who has built a career on defying expectations.
