AJ Styles open to wrestling again after retirement at WWE Royal Rumble 2026
(Courtesy : Getty)
The Phenomenal One lost the career threatning match in Riyadh.
‘The Phenomenal’ AJ Styles was forced to hang up his wrestling boots after losing the career-threatening match against ‘The Career Killer’ Gunther at the 2026 edition of the Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last week.
Even in defeat, many fans are still optimistic that Styles will extend his retirement tour, with some anticipating a run similar to John Cena’s appearances after stepping away from full-time competition.
Rumors swirling around social media also suggested that Styles might sign with another promotion, with AEW, TNA, and NJPW frequently mentioned among the potential destinations. Amid all the speculations, the former World Champion recently made an appearance on Stephanie McMahon’s podcast.
AJ Styles wants to team-up with his son
In the latest edition of What’s Your Story? with Stephanie McMahon, Styles made an appearance for the first time since his retirement match.
Notably, after the match, Styles appeared ready to leave his gloves in the ring, a traditional signal of retirement. However, he decided against it and put them back on as he celebrated with the fans. McMahon brought up that moment during their discussion, asking Styles directly about his decision.
Styles said he isn’t sure why he kept the gloves on, but emphasized that he isn’t closing the door completely. The Phenomenal One also floated the idea of possibly returning for a special moment, such as teaming with his son in the future.
The former WWE World Champion also acknowledged that the time will eventually come when he will bid farewell to the squared circle for good, but noted that it’s unclear whether that moment has already arrived.
“I don’t know [why I kept the gloves on]. I don’t know. Never say never, right? That’s the saying. I think everybody’s allowed at least once to come 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. So, there’ll be a time when the gloves never go back on. It may be now, but we’ll see.”
[H/T: Cultaholic]
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.
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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.