As previously reported, AJ Styles’ WWE career ended at last Saturday’s Royal Rumble premium live event (PLE) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after he lost a one-on-one match to GUNTHER. Styles’ in-ring retirement has left fans wondering about his future, and a recent report indicates that several promotions are interested in him. However, there are no signs that Styles plans to wrestle or make appearances outside of WWE.
According to Fightful Select, whatever Styles chooses to do moving forward, a source within WWE noted that the former WWE Champion had significant control over how he retired. Another source mentioned that the company would have gladly extended his time with them. Nevertheless, Styles has been considering retirement for years, leading us to the current situation.
The report also states that Styles' contract was believed to be set to expire in February 2026 as recently as a couple of months ago, although this has not been officially confirmed. There has been no announcement regarding an extension. One source from TNA even believed that Styles' deal might have been extended before the Royal Rumble, but this remains unverified. Sources in WWE indicated that if Styles wanted to work in TNA badly enough, he could do so while under contract with WWE, as there is a partnership between TNA and WWE. Styles has previously made appearances at Slammiversary 2025 and the premiere of iMPACT on AMC.
The report further mentions that Styles’ status was discussed at AEW Dynamite last week. It is unclear if Styles can, or would be interested in, joining AEW, as his contract status is still unconfirmed. However, the consensus among AEW sources is that the company would welcome him if given the opportunity. NJPW is also believed to be interested in him, especially since they have lost talents like Hiromu Takahashi and Clark Connors. A source close to Styles indicated they were aware that his in-ring career would conclude at the Royal Rumble but are uncertain about his next steps. Styles is in a position to make choices based on his preferences, without financial concerns.
