"I achieved my goals.”- WWE veteran AJ Styles makes major announcement regarding his retirement in 2026

The time for a wrestling veteran to retire is one of the hardest phases to undergo. Some do it out of choice, others are forced to. However, veteran star AJ Styles has announced his retirement in 2025 and is set to go out on his own terms in 2026. During a recent conversation with his former rival, The Undertaker, on his Six Feet Under podcast, The Phenomenal One revealed that his contract would expire at the end of 2026, and he does not intend to re-sign a new one following that.

Styles also said that retirement is a celebration of a career where fans and peers can celebrate with the superstar. “It is the opportunity to go out of your way, not because of injury, but standing on your own two feet, and the goal of working is to retire. And to be able to do that, to me, is a celebration, so I hope that when it does happen, you guys celebrate with me that I achieved my goals.”

AJ Styles announced his retirement in 2025

AJ Styles was set to face his iconic rival, John Cena, at the 2025 WWE Crown Jewel Premium Live Event. At the kickoff show, Styles, realising that it was his last time against the Never Seen 17, who was on his own farewell tour, revealed that 2026 would mark the end of his in-ring career as well. Following that, the duo produced one of the most captivating and explosive bouts in WWE history.

The former WWE Champion has been closely working with young talent since making his retirement news public. He recently had a run with upcoming luchador, Dragon Lee, as the WWE World Tag Team Champions. Their reign came to an end in 2025 when they were defeated by The Usos on an episode of Monday Night RAW. After John Cena retired in December, his last match opponent, Gunther, had begun to parade around as the man who made Cena give up.

This led to multiple altercations with AJ Styles, who did not like his actions. Moreover, on this week's episode of RAW, Styles slapped Gunther right across the face for showing disrespect to a legend like John Cena. The duo has officially been announced to compete in a singles match on next week's RAW, which is expected to be a heated yet spectacular in-ring showdown.

Also read: Was a promising WWE talent fired because of John Cena’s alleged affair?