Report: AJ Styles, WWE reach new contract for backstage role
AJ Styles and WWE have reportedly reached a new contract for him to officially continue with the company in a behind-the-scenes role.
PWInsider reports that, according to multiple sources, Styles and WWE have come to terms on a new deal following the end of his in-ring career. It’s believed Styles will be helping with the development of talent, though there is no further information on what his exact role will be.
The 48-year-old Styles retired from the ring last month with a loss to Gunther at Royal Rumble 2026. There had been speculation about him potentially wrestling elsewhere, but that came to an end this week with WWE holding a tribute for Styles on Raw, announcing that he’ll be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this April, and Styles himself shutting down any rumors about possibly going to AEW.
AEW was reportedly willing to make Styles a “substantial offer” if he did decide to go in that direction.
Styles has said it was important for him to retire before he reached a point where he was embarrassing himself in the ring. His body also told him that it was time to step away, with Karl Anderson revealing that Styles said his neck was “hurting too bad” to continue wrestling.
Retiring at the Royal Rumble was a choice Styles made to properly bookend his career. He made his WWE debut a decade ago at Royal Rumble 2016. Before joining WWE, Styles was the long-time face of TNA Wrestling and had a run in Japan as a top star for NJPW.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.