AJ Styles says he’s ‘grateful’ for WWE Hall of Fame induction

At the end of his retirement ceremony on Monday Night Raw, the WWE surprised AJ Styles by having the Undertaker break the news that he would be going into their Hall of Fame this year. Now we’re getting to see how Styles reacted backstage.

The WWE posted a video of backstage footage from the evening on their YouTube page. The video showed Styles gathering with his family just a few minutes after Raw went off the air. 

“I guess we’re going to WrestleMania, at least to the Hall of Fame,” he said. “I’m very excited. I don’t know, I really can’t think of the words to express how I feel. ‘Gratitude’s’ a big one. ‘Thankful.’ ‘Blessed.’”

Styles added that getting the news in his hometown, surrounded by his loved ones, made it even more special. “I’m glad they were here to see it too,” he said, referring to his wife and children. “What a place, being told you’re going into the Hall of Fame in the city that you live in. It was going to be a great night, and you got married. It’s awesome.” 

Cagematch lists Styles with 14 matches in the city of Atlanta. The first was a win over Rick Micheals in a dark match at a WWF Jakked taping in July of 2001. The last was a no contest against LA Knight on WWE SmackDown in January of 2024.