WWE World Champion CM Punk Addresses If AJ Styles Is Actually Retired

WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk has commented on whether AJ Styles is actually retired following Royal Rumble 2026.

Styles lost his match against GUNTHER at Royal Rumble with the stipulation that if Styles lost, he’d have to retire.

After the match, Styles was about to take off his signature ring gloves and leave them in the ring, but opted to keep them on, which led to some increased speculation that he may not be fully retired.

Appearing on today’s edition of the Pat McAfee Show, WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk gave his thoughts on Styles’ retirement, saying:

“Who knows? I don’t know. I know what he told me behind the scenes which is nobody else’s business.

“Listen, if we ever do a WrestleMania in Atlanta in the future and we need gnarly Allen Jones to come back and do a street fight, like Bruno Sammartino against ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage circa late 80s, yeah, bring it on.”

If you use this transcription or any portion of it please credit WrestleTalk.com and link to this page.

This week’s episode of WWE Raw played host to confirmation that Punk will defend his World Heavyweight Title against Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 42.