An update has been provided on the reason why AJ Styles chose to retire at the 2026 Royal Rumble pay-per-view.
AJ Styles’ retirement at the Royal Rumble was reportedly tied to his WWE contract status. According to PWInsider, Styles and WWE had been in talks about a new deal, but with the Royal Rumble approaching and no agreement finalised, the decision was made to proceed with the match against Gunther on January 31. Styles is said to have personally chosen the Royal Rumble as the setting for his final bout, as it was the same event where he made his WWE debut in 2016.
WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque is reportedly hopeful that Styles will remain with the company in a behind-the-scenes role. Discussions between the two sides are said to be ongoing, although there is no confirmation that a new contract has been signed. While Styles could explore outside opportunities if he becomes a free agent, there has been no indication that he plans to wrestle elsewhere.
What Has AJ Styles Said About A Possible WWE Return?
“Never say never, right? That’s the saying,” Styles said. “I think everybody’s allowed at least once coming out of retirement. I’m not saying that I’ll do it anytime soon. What if my son wrestles? The opportunity to tag with him once, you never know.”
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