AJ Styles is set to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year, an announcement made during WWE RAW has confirmed. Styles officially retired at last month’s Royal Rumble event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following his defeat against Gunther.
To honor his career, WWE hosted a special tribute show for Styles in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. During the program, The Undertaker revealed that Styles will be entering the Hall of Fame this April during the week of WrestleMania 42.
The tribute concluded RAW with a moving video package, and The Undertaker’s unexpected appearance marked the moment he made the induction news public. Styles celebrated the announcement alongside his family, reflecting on his legendary career since joining WWE in 2016 and securing two world championship titles.
At 48 years old, Styles is the second announced inductee for the Hall of Fame this year; Stephanie McMahon was revealed as the first inductee during Saturday Night’s Main Event the previous November.
Following Styles’s loss to Gunther, there was widespread speculation about his future, with some assuming he might let his WWE contract expire and pursue wrestling opportunities elsewhere. However, the former TNA star has indicated that retirement might not be absolute, expressing that you never say never, especially considering the possibility of his son wrestling in the future.
Still, his recent actions in the ring, such as laying down his gloves and jacket during The Undertaker’s announcement, suggest his retirement is now official.
Possibility of John Cena Inducting AJ Styles at Hall of Fame Ceremony
Throughout his WWE tenure, AJ Styles faced many top wrestlers, including The Undertaker, who was his final opponent at WrestleMania in a memorable 2022 Boneyard Match. One of Styles’s most legendary rivalries took place against John Cena, with their battles dominating the late 2010s and the beginning of Styles’s WWE career.
The two recently met for a final match at Crown Jewel in Perth, Australia, in September, delivering a typical classic encounter that ended in mutual respect and an embrace.
According to reports from Bodyslam.net, WWE hopes that John Cena will be the one to induct Styles into the Hall of Fame. Having also retired this past December after losing to Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event, Cena is seen as the ideal person to honor his long-time rival and close friend.
Nonetheless, uncertainty surrounds Cena’s availability for the Hall of Fame event due to his busy Hollywood commitments. Despite this, he remains the leading candidate to provide the induction speech, highlighting the deep respect and history shared by the two performers.
What AJ Styles’s Hall of Fame Induction Means for WWE
Styles’s inclusion in the WWE Hall of Fame underlines his significant impact on the company and the wrestling world in general. As a performer who successfully transitioned from TNA to WWE and achieved multiple world championships, his legacy will be officially cemented during WrestleMania week.
The possibility of John Cena inducting Styles adds an emotional and symbolic element to the ceremony, bringing together two of WWE’s iconic figures from the modern era. Fans will closely watch how this storyline unfolds and whether Cena’s appearance will be confirmed, signaling a potentially heartfelt moment for the wrestling community.
Looking ahead, Styles’s retirement, confirmed by The Undertaker’s announcement, may not entirely close the door on future appearances or contributions to WWE, especially with his expressed openness to returning and his son’s potential wrestling career motivating him.
AJ Styles is officially going into the 2026 WWE Hall Of Fame. #WWERAW
Bodyslam+ has heard of a specific name that WWE would like to induct the ‘Phenomenal One’. Find out here: https://t.co/ec7nMqAERL pic.twitter.com/p7XHxRTPVR
— BODYSLAM.NET | WWE & AEW Wrestling News (@BodyslamNet) February 24, 2026
