AJ Styles retired on the Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last month, passing out in Gunther’s Rear Naked Choke. The previous IWGP Heavyweight Champion’s retirement has fans wondering if he could find yourself in AEW, like “retired” WWE stars Adam Copeland, Jon Moxley, Christian Cage, or Chris Jericho.
On “WWE Raw,” WWE made it seem that Styles shall be sticking around the corporate for a bit while longer, not less than in a ceremonial role, because the upcoming “Raw” in Atlanta, GA next week will feature a tribute to the previous WWE Champion. While it is rather clearly “A Tribute to AJ Styles,” there is no such thing as a word on whether Styles shall be in attendance or not.
The previous TNA X Division Champion spent a decade with WWE, debuting on the 2016 Royal Rumble and retiring on the 2026 Royal Rumble, after a profession that saw him be the face of each competing promotion from TNA to NJPW, after which develop into a multiple time WWE Champion, in addition to a United States and Tag Team Champion as well over the course of his lengthy profession. With John Cena receiving a year-long retirement tour, many were shocked on the quickness with which Styles’s WWE profession was snuffed out.
With lots of Styles friends and former co-workers working in AEW, many expect Styles to find yourself in the corporate, but there was no concrete confirmation of Styles’s plans, outside of speculation on either end result from various sources. Next week’s tribute show further complicates the narrative of Styles heading to WWE, whether Styles attends the show or not, as WWE still seems invested in his brand.