AJ Styles Shuts Down Possibility Of Jumping To AEW Following Retirement, Reveals His Future WWE Plans

While there had been speculation that AJ Styles would continue to wrestle following his retirement at Royal Rumble 2026, the two-time WWE Champion has confirmed he is done inside the squared circle and shut down any possibility of jumping to All Elite Wrestling.

Styles stated on Talk'N Shop Live:

"Let me give you something to talk about. Everybody wants to say, 'Oh, WWE put him in the Hall of Fame so he couldn't go to AEW.' Guys, I'm retired from wrestling in the ring. That's all this is. I make my own choices. I make my own decisions. I was ready. There's a time where, you know, I've said this before, and I think Nattie put it in her book where she talks about staying at the table too long. You've got to beat the house. I beat the house, man, because I was on the verge of staying at the table too long."

Justin Barrasso of Undisputed has reported that Styles was aware that All Elite Wrestling were willing to make him a big offer that wouldn't keep him away from his family for too long.

The 48-year-old revealed his future plans later on Talk'N Shop Live, noting he would continue to work for WWE in a coaching role.

"Listen, I don't know how many people know this, and this will get you some traction if you need it, I'm still going to be working with WWE. That's not gonna change. I have these dreams and aspirations of helping out the younger talent and helping them get ready. If somebody's not ready and wants to get there, it's my job to hopefully help them get to that point where they can do it and are confident when they step into a WWE ring. That they have the ability and the talent to be one of the boys or one of the girls. They belong. Being able to help with that is a blessing, dude. I'm so excited about it," Styles added.

AJ Styles lost to Gunther at the WWE Royal Rumble in a match with Styles' career on the line. WWE paid tribute to Styles on the February 23 episode of Monday Night Raw in Atlanta, Georgia, during which Styles left his gloves in the ring after declining to do so at the Royal Rumble.

Karl Anderson noted elsewhere on Talk'N Shop Live that Styles "shoot retired" at the Royal Rumble due to his neck bothering him.

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