AEW President praises AJ Styles' iconic career following retirement at WWE Royal Rumble 2026
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The Phenomenal One lost his career threatning match.
‘The Phenomenal’ AJ Styles had to hang up his wrestling boots following the loss against ‘The Career Killer’ Gunther in the career-threatening match at the 2026 edition of the Royal Rumble.
Despite the loss, many fans remain hopeful that Styles will continue his retirement tour, with some expecting him to follow a path similar to John Cena’s post-retirement appearances.
There is also widespread speculation that Styles may sign with another promotion, with AEW, TNA, and NJPW frequently mentioned among the potential destinations.
Tony Khan is a huge fan of AJ Styles
AEW President Tony Khan, in a recent appearance on the Battleground Podcast, was asked about Styles’ contribution to pro wrestling. The AEW President stated that he is a huge fan of Styles, noting the incredible matches AJ has had in ROH and NJPW.
“Oh, I’m a huge fan of AJ Styles, I think he’s incredible. He’s had great matches all over the world. We were just talking about ROH. He did some incredible things in ROH that are a part of our library and also with our partners at New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He was involved in some of the all-time greatest matches.”
The AEW President had nothing but high praise for the Phenomenal One, calling him one of the greatest wrestlers ever and highlighting his iconic career.
“His match with Minoru Suzuki is one of my all-time favorites, and he’s had great matches with multiple companies all over the world. He’s never been in AEW before, but he’s certainly been with a lot of the promotions we work with.
And of course, in ROH, he has a great history, and for me, he’s one of my all-time favorites. Just personally, in my opinion, I think he’s one of the greatest wrestlers ever, so I have only the highest praise for AJ Styles.”
Regarding Styles’ retirement, PWInsider reported that Styles was expected to be at WWE headquarters, accompanied by Tiffany Stratton, though the purpose of the visit hasn’t been confirmed and may simply involve podcast recordings.
Notably, Styles is scheduled to appear as a guest on Stephanie McMahon’s podcast, where he is expected to address his retirement status directly. A preview clip shared by McMahon shows her asking Styles whether he almost considered hanging up his gloves, only for him to later pick them back up after his loss to Gunther.
Has AJ Styles retired from pro-wrestling?
While he recently competed in a high-profile “retirement match” at WWE Royal Rumble 2026 against Gunther, there has been no formal announcement confirming that he is permanently stepping away from the ring.
Will Styles join TNA or AEW after losing the career threatning match in WWE?
As of now, nothing is confirmed, and all of these are just speculations.
What is the latest update on his WWE status?
Per PWInsider, Styles was expected to be at WWE headquarters, accompanied by Tiffany Stratton, though the purpose of the visit hasn’t been confirmed and may simply involve podcast recordings. Notably, he is set to be the guest on Stephanie McMahon’s podcast and will likely clarify his retirement status.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.