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By Andrew Ravens
Contributing Sports Writer
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AJ Styles has officially opened up and addressed the ongoing speculation surrounding a possible AEW switch from WWE. The Phenomenal One officially ended his in-ring career at the Royal Rumble last month, where he was defeated by GUNTHER in a high-stakes match that marked a decade since his debut in the company.
Following the retirement of Styles, he was honored with a respectful tribute on the February 23, 2026, episode of Monday Night Raw in his home state of Georgia. During that broadcast, The Undertaker made a surprise appearance to announce that Styles would be the first individual inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026. This sequence of events led some fans to speculate that the induction was a strategic move by WWE to prevent him from signing with another company.
Speaking on a recent Talk N Shop Live! stream, Styles addressed the rumors that WWE put him in the Hall of Fame specifically to stop an AEW jump. He was blunt in his response, making it clear that the choice to hang up his boots was entirely his own and was not influenced by any corporate maneuvering.
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“Let me give you something to talk about. So, everybody wants to say, ‘Oh! WWE put him [AJ Styles] in the Hall of Fame so that he couldn’t go to AEW.’ Guys, I am retired from wrestling in the ring. Like, that’s all this is. I make my own choices, I make my own decisions. I was ready,” Styles said.
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The 48-year-old veteran explained that he felt he was on the verge of staying at the “table for too long” and wanted to “beat the house” by retiring while he could still perform at a high level. Styles noted that his journey, which began in 1998 and spanned nearly three decades across TNA, NJPW, and WWE, has now officially finished. He also crushed any lingering rumors about a move to another promotion by confirming that he will remain with the organization in a new capacity.
Styles revealed that he has already transitioned into a coaching role at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. He expressed a deep desire to help develop the next generation of talent and ensure they are confident when they eventually step into a ring on the main roster.
“I am still going to be working with WWE. That’s not going to change. I have these dreams of helping out young talent. If somebody is not ready once they get there, it’s my job to hopefully help them get to that point to where they can do it, and they are confident when they step into a WWE ring. Being able to help with that is a blessing,” Styles added.
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