AJ Styles Legitimately Surprised By Shock WWE Announcement

AJ Styles was just as surprised as everyone else after a shocking announcement on WWE RAW.

AJ Styles was forced to retire from the ring after he lost to Gunther at the 2026 Royal Rumble. That loss meant Styles’ time in the company was capped at a decade, in which time he has held the US Title, the Intercontinental Championship, the WWE Tag Team Title, and, of course, the WWE Championship on two occasions.

WWE had advertised that RAW in Atlanta, Georgia, would see a tribute to Styles take place, as questions about his future plans in the business continue to go unanswered.

Unlike at the Royal Rumble, this time, Styles did leave his gloves as well as his jacket in the ring on RAW, signalling that his in-ring career was over. But there was one more surprise to come.

AJ Styles Caught Out By Hall Of Fame Surprise

The Undertaker made an appearance to confront his last-ever opponent. But rather than re-open old wounds, The Undertaker was on hand to tell Styles that he would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

The Wrestling Observer’s Bryan Alvarez has reported that Styles was not clued in to the announcement, leaving it as a real surprise:

That whole thing at the end with the Undertaker and the Hall of Fame announcement was a legitimate surprise to AJ, who they didn’t clue in.

The Hall of Fame announcement means that AJ Styles will still be connected to WWE at least until WrestleMania 42 weekend. Whatever happens after that remains to be seen.