AJ Styles may have lost a “Career Threatening Match” to Gunther at the Royal Rumble, but the wrestling world—and seemingly Styles himself—isn’t convinced that was truly the end. Following the match, Styles notably kept his gloves on rather than leaving them in the ring, a traditional symbol of retirement. According to a new report from WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, people within WWE believe that the 48-year-old is not done wrestling in some capacity.
Styles: “What If My Son Wrestles?”
The speculation was fueled further by Styles’ appearance on Stephanie McMahon’s podcast this week. When asked about his decision to keep his gloves on, Styles gave a cryptic answer that left the door wide open for a return. “I don’t know. I don’t know. Never say never, right? That’s the saying. I think everybody’s allowed at least once to come out of retirement,” Styles stated.
He went on to outline a specific scenario that could lure him back to the squared circle. “I’m not saying that I’ll do it anytime soon….What if my son wrestles? The opportunity to tag with him once, you never know. So, there’ll be a time when the gloves never go back on. It may be now, but we’ll see.”
If Styles does decide to compete again in 2026, he will have no shortage of suitors. It has been noted that both AEW and New Japan Pro-Wrestling would likely have significant interest in signing the “Phenomenal One” for a final run.
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