AJ Styles brought his professional wrestling journey to a close after a defeat to Gunther during the WWE Royal Rumble 2026 Premium Live Event. His final in-ring collaboration was with Dragon Lee, who honored Styles with a touching tribute following the match. The announcement of AJ Styles retirement tribute has resonated deeply within the WWE fanbase and wrestling community.
Champion Tag Team Achievements Shared by Styles and Lee
On October 20, 2025, during an episode of Monday Night RAW, AJ Styles and Dragon Lee captured the WWE World Tag Team Championship by overcoming Finn Balor and JD McDonagh from The Judgment Day. Their partnership further proved strong with victories over Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater at Saturday Night’s Main Event XLII, alongside multiple successful title defenses. However, their reign concluded on December 29, 2025, when The Usos dethroned them on Monday Night RAW.
Dragon Lee Expresses Gratitude in Social Media Post
Following AJ Styles’s retirement, Dragon Lee took to Instagram to pay a sincere homage to Styles, expressing how fortunate he felt to have partnered with him. Lee’s message reflected a deep respect and brotherly bond between the two.
“I thank God and life for bringing us together, learned a lot from you. Thank you my brother @ajstylesp1 #PhenomenalDragons,” wrote Lee.
Xavier Woods Offers Support After Styles’s Final Match
Amid the emotional moments after Styles’s defeat to Gunther, Xavier Woods was among the first to console him. Their longstanding friendship made Woods’s gesture especially significant. Styles recounted this support during an interview on what’s Your Story?, recalling the comforting presence of Shane Helms, their seamstress Jolene, and Woods himself.
“And Shane Helms comes up and kind of grabs me and he said, ‘It’s alright, you’re good man, you don’t have to turn your back.’ It meant so much for him to come up and see me. Then Jolene our seamstress comes up and she’s hugging on me. Then Xavier comes up and I probably squeezed him the hardest because I’ve known him for so long and seeing him do so well in so many different things, it was a special moment. I squeezed him hard, he’s my guy. I squeezed a lot of people hard that night, it’s like you said (Stephanie McMahon) we might not be able to talk to each other like we used to but when we see each other it’s like no time is passed. We still know each other, it’ll still be the biggest hug,”
Dragon Lee Challenges Gunther in Response to Retirement
In the aftermath of AJ Styles’s retirement, Dragon Lee confronted Gunther during the latest Monday Night RAW episode, retaliating against the wrestler who ended his partner’s career. This act added new tension to their ongoing rivalry, demonstrating Lee’s determination to honor Styles’s legacy.
The Lasting Impact of AJ Styles’s Career and Tribute
AJ Styles’s retirement marks the end of an era for WWE’s wrestling scene, with his contributions leaving a profound mark on both colleagues and fans. The heartfelt tribute from Dragon Lee and the visible support from fellow wrestlers like Xavier Woods highlight the strong bonds forged throughout Styles’s career. As Dragon Lee continues his journey in WWE, his commitment to honoring Styles’s memory promises to influence upcoming storylines and inspire new talent within the industry.
