AJ Styles may be retired from in-ring competition, but the WWE Hall of Famer remains heavily involved in helping shape the next generation of talent.
Speaking on the Phenomenally Retro Podcast, quotes courtesy of wrestlinginc.com, AJ Styles revealed that his post-retirement role has expanded beyond talent scouting to include producing matches for WWE EVOLVE. Styles retired from active competition after being defeated by Gunther at the 2026 Royal Rumble, the same event where he made his WWE debut a decade earlier. Since then, he has remained active behind the scenes.
“When I’m at EVOLVE, I will produce a match if you need me to,” Styles said. “Which is what I did. I produced more than one match. I did two of them, actually. I enjoy it.”
The former WWE Champion explained that EVOLVE plays a crucial role in preparing WWE ID prospects for future opportunities in NXT and beyond. According to Styles, the developmental brand gives younger wrestlers valuable experience working in front of cameras and learning the finer points of WWE television production.
“It’s good for EVOLVE because we’re taking our ID talent, putting them on the shows, showing them where cameras are, which is very important, and then why we do certain things,” he said.
Styles added that he prefers talent to learn in a live environment rather than relying on multiple takes, believing the experience helps better prepare them for future call-ups.
AJ Styles Still Heavily Involved With WWE Despite Retirement
The Hall of Famer previously admitted he expected retirement to provide more free time, but his new responsibilities have kept him busy. Between appearances at Raw, visits to the WWE Performance Center, and work with EVOLVE talent, AJ Styles continues to play an active role within the company.
While his days inside the ring may be over, Styles is still helping shape WWE’s future from behind the scenes.
