Three direction WWE could take for AJ Styles' tribute on Raw next week (February 23, 2026)
(Courtesy : WWE)
The Phenomenal One was forced to retire at the Royal Rumble.
‘The Phenomenal’ AJ Styles was forced to retire at the Royal Rumble on January 31 in Riyadh. Styles lost the career-threatening match against ‘Career Killer’ Gunther, forcing his hand to bid farewell to the WWE universe.
Since the loss, many fans have theorized Styles’ return, with some even theorizing him taking a backstage role. During the February 16 episode of Monday Night Raw, the promotion provided a major update on the Phenomenal that has spiked fans’ interest.
During the show, a hype reel aired before the main event, revealing that next week’s show will feature a tribute to AJ Styles. Live from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, the February 23 episode of Raw will serve as the go-home show for the 2026 edition of Elimination Chamber.
The announcement has left many fans to speculate on how the segment might unravel, and ahead of next week, let us take a look at the three possible directions WWE could take for the tribute on Raw next week.
3. Induction into the WWE Hall of Fame
One of the main theories about AJ Styles’ next move after the match was that he might join AEW. However, reports indicate that Styles and WWE are still in discussions over a new contract. It was also noted that if his current deal expires, he would be free to explore other opportunities as a free agent.
WWE could sign AJ Styles to a new Legends deal and induct him into the Hall of Fame 2026 next week, an honor that would recognize his decades of contributions to professional wrestling and cement his legacy as one of the all-time greats in the industry.
2. AJ Styles’ appearance
Another possible, and even better, obvious direction would be an appearance from Styles in Atlanta. The episode is already stacked with big names such as Brock Lesnar, who will make his return since his last appearance at the Royal Rumble.
1. A WrestleMania rematch
Well, if Styles makes an appearance, Gunther is likely going to interrupt the segment, boasting about his win. WWE currently seems to be going in the direction of booking Styles’ former tag partner, Dragon Lee, against Gunther.
The promotion could also create an angle in which AJ comes to Lee’s aid, either accompanying him to a match at WrestleMania or, even better, deciding to lace up his boots once more and take on the Ring General himself.
Where will the February 23, 2026, episode of WWE Raw take place?
The next week’s episode of Monday Night Raw will take place at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
When and where will the Elimination Chamber 2026 take place?
The 2026 edition is scheduled for February 28, 2026, and will take place at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
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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.