At the Royal Rumble event last week, AJ Styles competed in what appeared to be his final WWE match, succumbing to Gunther’s submission hold and effectively ending his WWE tenure. Fans are expected to learn more as Styles will discuss his departure on Stephanie McMahon’s podcast, ‘What’s Your Story?’ in an upcoming episode set to release tomorrow.
Insight Into AJ Styles’ WWE Exit on Stephanie McMahon’s Podcast
Stephanie McMahon shared a preview of the episode on X, highlighting a brief exchange about Styles potentially returning to wrestling. During the snippet, she asked Styles whether “putting the gloves back on” was in his future, to which he seemed to respond, but key details were withheld to generate anticipation for the full discussion. McMahon posted,
“Honored to have as my next guest…The Phenomenal, @AJStylesOrg ! An all new #whatsyourstory drops tomorrow morning wherever you get your pods.”
Background on the Match and Retirement Uncertainty
Within WWE’s storyline, even AJ Styles himself appeared uncertain about retiring at this point. The match’s context showed that Styles had not planned for it to be his last, but Gunther, known as The Ring General, required Styles to put his career on the line. Gunther entered with a clear intention to conclude the match decisively, resulting in Styles’ defeat and the apparent end of his WWE career.
Despite being 48 years old, rumors persist about Styles possibly continuing his wrestling career outside WWE, especially with All Elite Wrestling (AEW). His sudden farewell comes as his WWE contract expires, fueling speculation that his excellent physical condition may allow him to wrestle for another year or two.
AJ Styles’ Recent Performance and Title History in WWE
While AJ Styles remained an active WWE performer, his recent years were marked by a lack of major success in rivalries and pay-per-view events, including an extended losing streak at major shows exceeding four years. His last significant victory at a pay-per-view was in November 2022 during Survivor Series: WarGames, where he defeated Finn Balor to close out a feud against The Judgment Day.
From mid-2021 onward, Styles did not claim any championships until late 2025, when he captured the World Tag Team Championship, formerly known as the RAW Tag Team Championship. This ended a notable dry spell of about four years without title wins, contrasting with his earlier WWE career, where he consistently secured at least one championship annually over six years.
What This Means for AJ Styles and WWE’s Future Storylines
AJ Styles’ exit marks a significant moment for WWE, as fans await further insights from the upcoming podcast episode with Stephanie McMahon. Styles’ departure could open new opportunities both for WWE’s evolving roster and potentially for Styles himself if he continues wrestling elsewhere. His health and form suggest he could remain competitive should he choose to extend his in-ring career beyond WWE.
Honored to have as my next guest…The Phenomenal, @AJStylesOrg!
An all new #whatsyourstory drops tomorrow morning wherever you get your pods.
@WWE @Fanatics @EGxo pic.twitter.com/zsRuSDcVYJ
— Stephanie McMahon (@StephMcMahon) February 5, 2026
