In his 20-plus years in professional wrestling, nobody teamed with AJ Styles more often than Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows. The Good Brothers shared locker rooms with him across multiple promotions. Nobody knows Styles better than them, and they do not think his retirement will last permanently.
The two veteran tag team specialists were asked about Styles’ retirement during an appearance on Busted Open Radio. Anderson shared his honest thoughts regarding his close friend’s mindset.
“I think he can sit it out for a couple of years,” Anderson said.
He believes Styles will find a temporary outlet for his passion.
“I think he’s able to fix the itch by helping people. He loves teaching. He loves helping the next generation,” he explained.
Anderson praised his friend’s extensive knowledge of the industry.
“He loves helping younger wrestlers. He knows people look up to him. He knows how good he is. He knows how good that people think he is,” he stated.
However, Anderson feels that the desire to perform will eventually return.
“I really believe that will satisfy the itch…until he can’t satisfy the itch anymore with it,” he predicted.
He gave a rough timeline for a potential comeback.
“Maybe he just needs a couple of years away,” Anderson continued. “Maybe he just needs a year and a half away. I do think it’s going to be at least a year.”
He emphasized the competitive nature that drives the former champion.
“I do think it’s going to be at least a year and a half, even. But the itch is always going to come back. He’s too competitive, man,” Anderson noted.
He believes Styles still has plenty to offer the WWE fans.
“And he’s just too good still. And I know that at some point, I believe he’s going to have to get back in there,” he added.
Gallows entirely agreed with his tag team partner’s assessment.
“AJ beat the house, but I would bet this beautiful house that I’m sitting in right now that he will be back,” he said.
He is completely confident in a future return.
“And I just see him coming back to the ring one way or another. There’s too much left in the tank. And the itch is real,” Gallows ended.
That is not what Gallows said, however, on the night of Styles’ retirement ceremony on Monday Night Raw in Atlanta.
“He actually really is finished, and there’s not another story,” Gallows said in WWE footage captured that night.
He initially sold the finality of the situation to the audience.
“There’s not a jump. There’s finality. But I just saw him for the first time, I’ve been here a few hours and he’s been busy, and I just saw him and I could see how happy he was,” he remarked at the time.
While Styles adjusts to life outside the ring, the active roster is preparing for the Elimination Chamber premium live event. The broadcast is scheduled for Saturday, February 28, 2026, streaming from the United Center in Chicago. CM Punk will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Finn Balor to headline the critical show.
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