Legendary WWE Star Nearly Left For AEW Earlier In Career

A veteran WWE superstar nearly left the company to become All Elite. 

It was 10 years ago this month when former 2-time WWE Champion AJ Styles made his shocking debut in the Royal Rumble match. Later in 2016, Styles would go on to have the first of his two WWE Championship reigns.

While Styles has only worked for WWE over the last ten years, there is speculation that he could wrestle in another company after his WWE deal ends. No matter where he ends up, Styles has been adamant that he plans to retire as a wrestler in 2026, the year he turns 49.

In a recent report from Self Made Pro, there was a time in AJ’s career when he thought about joining AEW.

“I can tell you, before I pass it to you all, that on two occasions in the last seven years, AJ Styles not only seriously considered going to AEW—he was actually going to go to AEW. And I can tell you that last year, before he signed that one-year extension, he absolutely, for a very brief period, was going to go to AEW. It was a thing he decided he was going to do.” (H/T Ringsidenews)

Over the last couple of months, Styles refused to sign a fan’s AEW championship, even though he said he loved Matt & Nick (The Young Bucks), and also shut down a fan’s opinion when the fan wanted him to retire in AEW.

AJ Styles Talks To Triple H About WWE Wrestlers He Wants To Face

At the WWE Royal Rumble in Riyadh, AJ Styles will face Gunther in a match where Styles will retire if he loses.

WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque recently spoke about honoring AJ’s wishes by giving him the matches he wants. Styles faced long-term rivals Shinsuke Nakamura and CM Punk over the last week, likely at Styles’ request.

“AJ Styles has not made it a secret this year, ‘26, is going to be his last in-ring year. But he has a lot of goals and a lot of people, I know he’s with me every week making a list of people that he would want to face and that he wants to meet in the ring before he retires.

But as Gunther was disrespecting John Cena about doing the one thing he said he would never do which is quit or give up, Gunther made him do that in his final match.

AJ Styles has taken offense to that. He put his career on the line against Gunther, saying that if he can’t beat him, if he can’t end this streak for Gunther, then he’s done. I, for one, hope that that doesn’t happen. I hope AJ Styles continues because he’s an incredible talent. But if it does, what an unbelievable run he’s had.”

In a now-deleted social media post, WWE superstar Shinsuke Nakamura claimed that Styles wanted to retire at the Royal Rumble, but fans of Styles are hoping that AJ’s retirement is further down the road.