On the last episode of Monday Night RAW in 2025, AJ Styles and Dragon Lee lost their World Tag Team Championships to The Usos, with Triple H making the decision that surprised many fans at the event. This major shift in the tag team division has sparked widespread debate about why Triple H decided to end AJ Styles’ championship run, especially considering the team’s strong performance. The topic of AJ Styles WWE Tag Titles has become central to ongoing discussions in wrestling circles.
Triple H’s Vision for AJ Styles as a Singles Competitor
One significant motivation for taking the titles off AJ Styles and Dragon Lee appears to be Triple H’s interest in reestablishing Styles as a singles athlete. The promotion has hinted at a potential clash between AJ Styles and Gunther, a rivalry that could captivate fans if Styles is fully committed to the singles scene. Remaining as Tag Team Champion would limit AJ Styles’ ability to pursue top-tier individual storylines on the WWE’s red brand.
The Stamford-based company seems eager to leverage AJ Styles’ star power in solo competition, a direction many interpret as a strategic move to improve RAW’s main event landscape. This possible shift is strengthened by ongoing teases of a showdown between Styles and Gunther, which cannot realistically unfold while Styles is tied up in tag team obligations. The champion’s transition marks an important move for the company as it seeks to keep the main event scene dynamic and unpredictable.
Lack of Strong Competition in the Tag Team Division
Another reason for the sudden title change lies in the evolving dynamics of the tag team division on RAW. While Styles and Dragon Lee have successfully defeated several high-profile teams, the Usos were the only credible threat left after Jey Uso became World Champion. This left Triple H with few options to maintain excitement and unpredictability within the division.
With the Usos now nine-time title holders, their win seems necessary to keep the tag team competition compelling. As such, Triple H’s decision to shift the championship to the Usos reflects a desire to inject new energy into the division and challenge the remaining teams to rise to the occasion. The Samoan Twins, as the Usos are sometimes called, have now regained their dominant status, testing the creativity and depth of talent in the current RAW tag team roster.
Preparing for AJ Styles’ Final WWE Run Before Retirement
The timing of the title loss is also linked to AJ Styles’ impending retirement from WWE, which the veteran performer has confirmed will occur in 2026. As a former World Champion with a legendary career, Styles now faces his last year in the squared circle, turning his focus to a memorable farewell journey through the company.
This transition suggests that Triple H wants to shape Styles’ retirement run without the constraints of tag team commitments. By losing the tag team title, AJ Styles is free to participate in high-profile singles matches and farewell storylines that would best honor his contributions to wrestling. For Dragon Lee, this outcome likely signals a split and the beginning of his solo path post-title loss, hinting at significant changes to both superstars’ careers as WWE moves into the new year.
The shakeup not only sets the stage for AJ Styles’ concluding performances but also redefines the direction of the RAW brand, making the decision critical for story development within the Stamford-based promotion as 2026 approaches.
We are just days away from the start of AJ Styles' final year as a wrestler.
This 2026 run NEEDS to be great. pic.twitter.com/sVKwquMvNe
— Finesse (@ProWFinesse) December 30, 2025
