WWE’s Ulterior Motive In AJ Styles’ Hall Of Fame Induction Announcement Revealed

Ahead of WrestleMania 42, AJ Styles will officially become a WWE Hall of Famer.

The February 23 taping of Raw was a tribute to The Phenomenal One after he retired following his loss to Gunther at the Royal Rumble PLE.

The main event segment featured Styles thanking the fans in his home state of Georgia and viewers worldwide for their years of constant support.

The 48-year-old also left his jacket and gloves in the middle of the ring after completing his speech. This prompted the promotion’s staff and talent to come out and acknowledge his contributions.

Soon after, The Undertaker’s gong hit, and the lights went out. The Deadman arrived in his American Badass persona and announced that AJ Styles would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2026.

While the announcement is huge for Styles’s legacy, who began wrestling professionally in 1998, its timing has a potential ulterior motive on the Stamford promotion’s behalf.

AJ Styles’ HOF Induction Could Be A Weapon To Repel AEW

Despite retiring from WWE in January, AJ Styles had not officially closed the door on his career.

Amid speculations that he could turn up in one of the other wrestling promotions, including AEW, Triple H and Co. may have weaponized his Hall of Fame status to keep the Jacksonville company at bay.

A report by Justin Barrasso of Undisputed shed more light on it.

For as much as WWE claims to be blissfully unaware of what is happening in AEW, that isn’t the case. With Styles getting inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, it severely limits any potential AEW owner Tony Khan had of bringing Styles in for a surprise appearance at the Revolution pay-per-view in March.

For AEW, their post-WrestleMania show is Double or Nothing in May–and even that feels too soon for Styles to appear.

Barrasso’s report also did not actively claim that Styles was looking to jump ship.

That isn’t to imply Styles was looking to wrestle again. He meant what he said about spending time at home with family. But speaking to a few people close to him, Styles was well aware that AEW was willing to make a substantial offer. And it was likely going to be one that wouldn’t cost him much time away from home. [H/T: Ringside News]

Alsor read: AJ Styles Reveals Heartbreaking Reason Behind WWE Retirement