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AJ Styles confirmed his retirement from in-ring competition on Monday Night Raw in Atlanta after a career-threatening loss to GUNTHER at the Royal Rumble. In the Raw main event he formally removed his gloves and left them in the ring, signaling the end of his active career. The segment ended with The Undertaker interrupting to reveal Styles will be a member of the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Stephanie McMahon is the only other inductee announced so far.
Key Takeaways
- AJ Styles announced his retirement live on WWE Raw in Atlanta following a career-threatening defeat to GUNTHER at the Royal Rumble.
- During Raw’s main event Styles removed his gloves and left them in the ring, a traditional symbol of retiring from active wrestling.
- The Undertaker interrupted Styles’ farewell and disclosed that Styles will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class.
- Stephanie McMahon has already been named as an inductee in the 2026 Hall of Fame class; Styles joins her as one of two announced so far.
- The segment referenced a prior appearance in Saudi Arabia where Styles had kept his gloves, explaining he wanted to bring them back home before retiring.
Background
AJ Styles has spent more than two decades building a reputation as one of professional wrestling’s most consistent performers, with high-profile runs in multiple promotions before and during his WWE tenure. The Royal Rumble match against GUNTHER was framed on broadcast as career-threatening, and it set expectations among fans and company officials that Styles might be stepping away. Retirement angles in WWE commonly blend storyline and real-world milestones; performers sometimes retire from full-time competition while remaining involved in other capacities. The decision to keep his gloves after the Saudi Arabia match had fueled speculation that Styles might delay retirement, making the Raw segment a definitive on-screen moment to resolve that narrative.
Key stakeholders include WWE’s creative and talent relations teams, Styles’ family and personal management, and the fan base that has followed his career across promotions. The Hall of Fame induction is both a symbolic honor and a promotional tool for WWE, often tied to WrestleMania-week events and WWE’s broader legacy storytelling. Announcing a Hall of Fame induction from a marquee program like Raw reinforces WWE’s control over its historical narrative and offers live television impact.
Main Event
Monday Night Raw in Atlanta gave Styles a platform to address the crowd and clarify his decision. He explained that he had not left his gloves in Saudi Arabia because he wanted to bring them back to a home crowd, then removed them during the live segment—a deliberate, visible act signaling retirement. The tone of the moment mixed gratitude and finality: Styles thanked family and fans and prepared for what appeared to be a traditional send-off.
Before the farewell could conclude, The Undertaker made a dramatic entrance. Initially suggesting there was “unfinished business,” The Undertaker’s interruption heightened suspense and drew a visible reaction from Styles and the audience. Rather than extending an in-ring rivalry, the interruption pivoted to a ceremonial announcement: Styles would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class.
The reveal positioned Styles alongside Stephanie McMahon, who had earlier been named an inductee. WWE promoted the Hall of Fame announcement live, using the Raw platform to give the induction immediate visibility and to tie it to Styles’ on-screen farewell. The broadcast combined formal recognition with a storyline beat to create a moment designed to resonate with long-term fans and casual viewers alike.
Analysis & Implications
For Styles’ legacy, the Hall of Fame announcement formalizes a career that many observers already viewed as Hall-worthy. His body of work—across international promotions and within WWE—has been cited by commentators as influential in shaping a modern in-ring style that blends athleticism and character work. The timing of the induction, announced immediately after a retirement segment, frames WWE’s historical record on its own terms and underscores how the company packages long-term storytelling with milestone moments.
From a business perspective, a marquee induction can be leveraged for WrestleMania-week programming, merchandise, and content on WWE platforms. WWE’s decision to announce the induction on Raw maximizes exposure and creates cross-promotional opportunities for future events and media. For the Hall of Fame itself, adding a mainstream favorite like Styles strengthens the class’ appeal to paying viewers and subscribers who follow legacy storytelling.
On the talent front, retirement from in-ring competition does not preclude other WWE roles. Many past inductees have returned for non-competitive appearances, produced or coached younger talent, or taken on backstage roles. WWE benefit and medical arrangements, as well as Styles’ personal choices about family and long-term health, will likely shape whether he remains visible on future programming beyond Hall of Fame ceremonies.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Current Status |
|---|---|
| Announced 2026 Hall of Fame inductees | AJ Styles, Stephanie McMahon |
| Retirement announcement platform | Monday Night Raw (Atlanta) |
The table above lists the confirmed elements announced on Raw: Styles’ retirement and the two named Hall of Fame inductees so far. Historically, WWE adds more names to each Hall of Fame class in the months following early announcements; how the 2026 class fills out will be a point of attention for fans and media channels.
Reactions & Quotes
“I didn’t leave my gloves in Saudi Arabia because I wanted to bring them back home.”
AJ Styles (on Raw)
Styles used that line to explain his decision to bring the gloves back to Atlanta and then leave them in the ring—an on-screen gesture signaling retirement.
“We have unfinished business.”
The Undertaker (entrance on Raw)
The Undertaker’s line initially suggested continuation of a storyline, but the interruption ultimately served to announce Styles’ Hall of Fame induction rather than a renewed rivalry.
Unconfirmed
- Whether AJ Styles’ retirement is permanent remains unconfirmed; WWE retirements have sometimes led to non-wrestling roles or occasional special appearances.
- No official list of additional 2026 Hall of Fame inductees has been released beyond Stephanie McMahon and AJ Styles.
Bottom Line
Monday Night Raw in Atlanta delivered a clear narrative beat: AJ Styles’ in-ring career appears to have ended, and WWE has committed to recognizing his accomplishments with a Hall of Fame induction in 2026. The combination of a retirement gesture and an immediate Hall of Fame announcement gives the moment both emotional weight and promotional value for WWE.
Going forward, the key items to watch are whether WWE adds more names to the 2026 class, whether Styles chooses any behind-the-scenes or on-screen non-wrestling roles, and how WWE packages the induction within WrestleMania-week events. For fans and historians, the announcement crystallizes Styles’ position in modern wrestling history while leaving a few practical questions—chiefly about what “retirement” will mean for his future involvement with the company.