AJ Styles’ Wrestling Future Addressed After Royal Rumble Loss
By Conor Renshaw on 2 February 2026
AJ Styles may have lost his career-threatening match to Gunther at the Royal Rumble, but speculation quickly followed over whether The Phenomenal One is truly finished as an in-ring performer.
Much of the debate centred on AJ Styles’ actions after the bout. While he removed his trademark gloves following the loss, he ultimately put them back on rather than leaving them in the middle of the ring, a gesture traditionally associated with retirement. That detail led some fans to suggest Styles may only be finished in WWE and could potentially return to TNA to close out his career.
However, comments made after the event appeared to shut down those theories.
What Did WWE Officials Say About AJ Styles’ Retirement?
On the Royal Rumble post-show, WWE broadcaster Peter Rosenberg said he spoke directly with Styles and stressed that the decision was final.
“So just to be clear, because I know AJ went back into the ring, he went up there, took in a second round of applause. I spoke to AJ. It is very much the end. This is it for AJ Styles,” Rosenberg said. “He is not the kind of guy who goes back on his word when he says he’s having a match with his career on the line.”
WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque also addressed Styles’ future, explaining that the retirement had been discussed internally for some time.
“Obviously, we expected it later in the year. We had a lot of conversations about it,” Levesque said. “AJ is one of those people that absolutely wants to give back and be a part of this business. I don’t want to speak for him, but the conversations that he had with me, he made it very clear that he was just done with the in-ring.”
Levesque added that he hopes Styles remains involved in wrestling in a different capacity, pointing to other veterans who have successfully transitioned into new roles.
“I’m hoping that he will contribute because again he’s one of the most influential people in the business and one of the greatest minds in the business,” Levesque said. “When you see somebody like what Shawn Michaels is doing in NXT, I think that’s a path and a career for AJ Styles beyond this period that he’s in.”
While fan theories about one last run elsewhere continue to circulate, WWE officials have made it clear they believe Styles’ in-ring career has now come to an end following his defeat to Gunther at the Royal Rumble.