AJ Styles was very close to joining AEW in 2025before making a last-minute decision to stay with WWE for one final run.
Thats according to a January 29, 2026 report from Self Made Pro, which claims the former WWE Champion had fully made up his mind to jump to AEW before ultimately re-signing with WWE on a one-year extension. The new deal, quietly signed in February 2025, locked him in through February 2026just long enough to wrap up his career during WrestleMania season.
This backstage update lands just days before Styles is scheduled to put his career on the line at WWEs Royal Rumble event on January 31, 2026 in Saudi Arabia. The former WWE Champion is set to face GUNTHER in a high-stakes match that could mark his official retirement if he loses.
Earlier this month, Styles shut down a fan on Twitter who criticized him for not finishing his career in AEW. The fan accused him of chasing a bigger paycheck instead of making the jump.
Styles previously admitted that hed spoken with The Young Bucks in 2019 about possibly joining AEW, but no formal contract discussions took place. He instead re-signed with WWE at the time.
With his retirement match looming and new details about near-defections to AEW now coming to light, the limelight on AJ Styles final chapter has never been brighter.
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