AJ Styles Shuts Down AEW Rumors, Says He’s Retired From Wrestling

AJ Styles says he’s retired for good. A day after The Undertaker announced him as the latest addition to the Class of 2026 WWE Hall of Fame, The Phenomenal One shut down the suggestions that the promotion made that move to prevent him from joining All Elite Wrestling.

On the Talk N Shop podcast, AJ addressed the speculations, declaring that he has retired from in-ring competition once and for all and that he makes his own decisions. The former WWE Champion said that he was in danger of staying at the table for too long, something he didn’t want to do.

“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,” AJ Styles said.

Check out his comments below:

AJ Styles battled Gunther in a career-threatening match at the Royal Rumble PLE last month. Despite his best efforts, he failed to defeat the Career Killer, as he passed out from the Sleeper Hold. AJ has since revealed his original retirement plan. You can check out his comments HERE.

Please credit the Talk N Shop podcast and give an H/T to 411Mania for the transcription if you take quotes from this copy.