AJ Styles‘ WWE career concluded on Saturday night after he lost to Gunther at the Royal Rumble event held at Riyadh Season Stadium. The 48-year-old veteran seemed hesitant to permanently leave his trademark gloves in the ring, which sparked widespread speculation about his true intentions regarding retirement.
Gunther, nicknamed ‘The Ring General’ and known as a ‘career killer,’ has built a reputation for ending the careers of WWE legends. Over the past year, he defeated icons such as Goldberg and John Cena, and at the Royal Rumble, he added AJ Styles to that list by making him submit to his powerful sleeperhold. After the referee called the match, the crowd was stunned, understanding that Styles had likely seen the end of his WWE in-ring journey.
Tradition and the Glove Moment That Raised Questions
In professional wrestling, it is customary for performers to leave behind a significant piece of their attire—like boots or gloves—in the ring to symbolize retirement. For instance, Triple H laid down his boots at WrestleMania 38 to mark his farewell, and John Cena famously abandoned his sneakers and towel at the end of his career. AJ Styles appeared ready to follow this tradition by placing his gloves in the center of the ring amid a standing ovation.
However, in an unexpected move, Styles chose at the last moment to put his gloves back on and gave one final salute to the WWE Universe instead of leaving his gloves behind. This awkward hesitation fueled fan theories that he might not be fully committed to retirement from wrestling altogether.
Fan Theories Suggest AJ Styles’ Wrestling Career May Not Be Over
Following the event, a viral fan theory emerged on social media speculating why Styles changed his mind about leaving his gloves down. One widely shared post noted,
AJ Styles was going to leave his gloves in the ring, but then proceeded to put them back on. I think it’s a sign that he is NOT done wrestling just yet, only done in WWE.
This tweet has garnered more than 23,000 likes, indicating that many fans believe there could be more to Styles’ future in wrestling beyond WWE. Although Styles’ in-ring career within WWE is considered concluded, he remains under contract with the company until the end of 2026, which restricts him from wrestling elsewhere without WWE’s approval.
Possible Paths for AJ Styles Post-WWE
Despite the contract limitations, WWE maintains a cooperative relationship with TNA Wrestling, the promotion where Styles first gained prominence and where he is revered as a legend. The retirement stipulation for the match against Gunther was specifically framed around his WWE career, which leaves open the possibility of Styles returning to compete outside WWE.
A comeback to TNA would represent a full-circle moment for Styles, honoring the place where his professional journey began. Alternatively, once his WWE contract expires, he could potentially join All Elite Wrestling, a major rival promotion. Until then, Styles’ next moves remain uncertain but highly anticipated by fans and insiders alike.
