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AJ Styles Explains Why He Chose Royal Rumble Over WrestleMania 42 for Retirement

2026-07-24 · AJ Styles · Player Focus

AJ Styles has finally revealed why he chose to end his WWE career at the Royal Rumble instead of waiting for the bigger stage of WrestleMania 42. In a recent appearance on the “Insight” podcast, Styles explained that his decision was personal and not influenced by the company.

What happened?

AJ Styles surprised fans by announcing his retirement at the 2026 Royal Rumble, which took place in Saudi Arabia. The event marked the end of an illustrious career for the WWE Hall of Famer.

Why it matters for AJ Styles

Styles revealed that his decision to retire at the Royal Rumble was rooted in his personal connection to the event. He made his WWE debut at the Royal Rumble in 2016 and felt that ending his career at the same event was the right thing to do.

What comes next?

Although AJ Styles has retired, there is speculation that he might not be done with wrestling just yet. The WWE Hall of Famer walked away without leaving his gloves behind in the ring, leading some fans to wonder if he might return to the ring in the future.

Key Takeaways:

  • AJ Styles chose to retire at the Royal Rumble instead of WrestleMania 42.
  • The decision was personal and not influenced by the company.
  • Styles made his WWE debut at the Royal Rumble in 2016.
  • There is speculation that AJ Styles might return to the ring in the future.

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