AJ Styles Teases Wrestling Again After WWE Retirement

February 5, 2026

AJ Styles has finally addressed the moment that had fans talking long after the WWE Royal Rumble ended.

At WWE Royal Rumble 2026, AJ Styles officially called time on his in-ring career. The night ended with Styles passing out to a sleeper hold from GUNTHER, a finish that felt final, emotional and heavy. But once the match was over, one small detail stood out.

Styles didn’t leave his gloves in the ring. That single choice immediately sparked speculation. Was this really retirement? Or just the end of his WWE run? Fans started connecting dots, and the questions only got louder as the days passed.

Styles finally addressed the moment while speaking on What’s Your Story? with Stephanie McMahon. When asked why he appeared ready to leave his gloves behind but then put them back on, Styles admitted he didn’t have a definite answer.

Styles said, “I don’t know. I don’t know. I know, never say never, right? That’s the saying. You know, I think everybody’s allowed, at least once, to come out of retirement.” While he made it clear he isn’t planning a return anytime soon, Styles said he also doesn’t want to completely close the door, “I’m not saying that I’ll do it anytime soon.”

Styles said he wasn’t sure what the moment meant. Stephanie McMahon noted that most wrestlers who retire usually come back at least once. He mentioned the possibility of his son becoming a wrestler one day and said that the chance to team with him, even once, would be hard to turn down.

“Well, I mean, what if my son wrestles? Well, the opportunity to tag with him once. And you never know. So, there’ll be a time when the gloves will never go back on or maybe now but we’ll see.”

AJ Styles says his children have a little bit of wrestling in them

AJ Styles said his second-oldest son is already involved, and he’s working with him now. He also said that his daughter has the wrestling bug, calling her a female Rey Mysterio.

“And then who knows if my daughter? My third son has nothing to do with anything sports whatsoever. He doesn’t care about it. “He added, “But, you know, it would surprise me if my daughter got into it. She’d be like the Rey Mysterio of the women’s. Oh yeah. She’s tiny. She’s small. But, you know, we’ll see.”