Real Reason AJ Styles Didn’t Retire At WWE WrestleMania 42

Published: Jul 21, 2026 by Dave Adamson | Last Updated: Jul 21, 2026 by Dave Adamson

Dave has been a website writer for WrestleTalk since October 2022, having previously written for Den of Geek, among a number of wrestling, movie and television-related sites. Dave has been around the independent wrestling scene for more than a decade, including behind-the-scenes.

Real Reason AJ Styles Didn’t Retire At WWE WrestleMania 42

AJ Styles has revealed the reason why he chose to retire at this year’s Royal Rumble instead of opting for WWE WrestleMania 42.

At the WWE Royal Rumble in January 2026, AJ Styles brought his in-ring career to an end with a loss to GUNTHER.

The reason that the WWE Hall of Famer chose to call time on his career at Royal Rumble instead of waiting for WrestleMania 42 in April has now been revealed.

Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, AJ Styles recalled plans for his retirement at WrestleMania 41 being scrapped due to his foot injury, noting:

“Well, I was gonna retire before the Royal Rumble at WrestleMania (41), but I just come back from my foot injury, and it just didn’t seem right. I was feeling kind of good, actually.

“Once I got my foot back in order, I was like, man. I’m sure money was a thing, because I didn’t ask for more money, I just wanted to extend it, but then again, they did right by me, paying me well, and so I know that was an issue, but then we finally got that in order, and I was like, ‘Alright, here we go.’

The Phenomenal One noted that WrestleMania “wasn’t his PLE”, having debuted at the Royal Rumble in 2016, which is why he chose to end his career at Royal Rumble 2026.

He explained:

“That wasn’t my pay-per-view or PLE. That’s not where I started.

“For me to be able to debut and then end it at the Royal Rumble – and I don’t care that it was in Saudi Arabia, it’s still the Royal Rumble – that meant something to me.

“I know there are people who have WrestleMania as their big PLE, but mine was the Royal Rumble.”

Styles would also open up about the match that saw him retire at the hands of GUNTHER, who had previously put an end to the in-ring careers of Goldberg and John Cena.

Fifteen Years In The Making

AJ Styles may have had his WWE debut at the Royal Rumble in 2016, but that wasn’t the first time he found himself associated with the company.

Back in 2001, Styles had his first WWE tryout with the match taking place before the July 9 episode of the then-WWF Raw. While Styles would win that match, a contract would not follow for the independent wrestling star.

The following year would see Styles compete on WWF Metal, losing to The Hurricane, followed by a dark match on SmackDown, with both taking place in late January. It would be these performances that would see the star offered a contract for the first time.

Styles would opt not to sign with WWE at that time, choosing to not disrupt his wife’s college plans by relocating to Cincinnati, Ohio, the home of the developmental territory.

It was a bold move for the star, but it would be one that paid off, with Styles going on to successful runs in Ring of Honor, TNA Wrestling, NJPW and competing across the international independent wrestling scene.

By the time Styles signed his first WWE contract, he would have come off an NJPW run that had seen him become a two-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion and a member of Bullet Club.

Styles may be done as an in-ring competitor, but he continues to work behind-the-scenes in WWE as a talent scout, among other roles.

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