WWE Contract Status Update for AJ Styles, Chances of Styles Possibly Going to AEW

WWE Superstar and former WWE Champion AJ Styles recently confirmed that he plans to retire in the next year. But plenty of wrestlers have gone back on their retirement plans and returned to the ring before. What about Styles potentially leaving WWE and going to AEW when his contract expires? During the latest Fightful Select Answers Q&A, Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp commented on the possibility of AJ Styles possibly leaving WWE and going to AEW.

According to Sapp on the Fightful Weekly Q&A Podcast, there’s a “very slim chance” of AJ Styles joining AEW after leaving WWE once his contract expires. Sapp reports that Fightful’s current WWE contract was originally scheduled to end in early 2026. However, he noted that he was unsure if WWE had since opted to extend Styles’ contract or not.

Sapp also reports that most people close to Styles believe he will finish out his career in WWE, as the wrestler and former Grand Slam Champion has appeared happy there for a while. Styles has also been discussing retirement since as far back as 2019 during his last WWE contract.

Since that time, AJ Styles has appeared keen on staying in WWE as he likes being a part of the company. Styles joined the company just under ten years ago, debuting at the 2016 Royal Rumble in the Rumble match. He won his first WWE Championship later that same year, defeating Dean Ambrose to win the title at WWE Backlash.

AJ Styles Wrestles John Cena in Classic Match at WWE Crown Jewel Perth

Of course, Styles was last in action at WWE Crown Jewel Perth last Saturday, wrestling John Cena in what many were calling a Match of the Year Candidate.

Cena defeated AJ in an homage-filled classic, where they both pulled off moves from some of their old rivals and inspirations for their careers. He ultimately won the match after hitting Styles with a Tombstone Piledriver, followed by an Attitude Adjustment.

AJ Styles’ Next Title Opportunity

Despite his career seemingly winding down, Styles has another huge title match scheduled for next week’s edition of Monday Night Raw. As announced during last night’s show, Styles will team up with Dragon Lee as they will challenge The Judgment Day for the World Tag Team belts.

Next week’s WWE Raw, featuring Styles and Lee against Finn Balor and JD McDonagh for the titles, is being held at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. The show will air live on Netflix.

Styles is a former WWE Champion, Intercontinental Champion, and RAW Tag Team Champion who is known for his iconic moves, the Styles Clash and the Phenomenal Forearm. He’s competed for RAW and Smackdown. He also had a legendary run in TNA Wrestling.