AJ Styles didn’t quietly fade into retirement — and now the real reason behind his decision has come to light straight from someone who heard it directly from him.
After officially ending his in-ring career following his loss to Gunther at the 2026 Royal Rumble, Styles made it clear he was stepping away. WWE quickly honored him with a tribute on Raw and confirmed his Hall of Fame induction, but behind the scenes, the decision had already been made for reasons far beyond storyline or timing.
Speaking on the Talk’n Shop podcast, Karl Anderson revealed the private conversation where Styles told him exactly why it was over.
“He said, ‘Dude, I have to. My neck is hurting too bad, I’m beat up, it’s time. I want to help the next generation.’”
Anderson admitted he didn’t accept it right away. Like many fans, he believed Styles could still go — and even publicly talked about possible returns. But reality eventually set in.
“And I go, ‘Well, I didn’t really believe it, so I just kept talking on my podcast about how you were not going to retire and you’re going to go here and you’re going to go there. And now I gotta eat a lot of crow, pal.’”
At that point, Anderson realized this wasn’t a temporary break or a tease. Styles had already made peace with the decision.
“So ladies and gentlemen, fans of Talk’n Shop, it’s my esteemed honor to humbly apologize for giving anybody false hope that AJ Styles was not going to retire. Clearly, I was wrong. He shoot retired.”
Styles’ admission paints a clear picture of what decades inside the ring can do to even the toughest performers. His neck issues and accumulated injuries ultimately forced him to step away, choosing his long-term health and future over continuing to compete.
Even in retirement, Styles remains deeply respected within WWE, with his Hall of Fame induction during WrestleMania 42 weekend cementing his legacy as one of the most accomplished wrestlers of his generation. His focus now appears to be shifting toward helping the next generation rather than continuing to punish his own body.
Do you think AJ Styles made the right call walking away when he did, or would you want to see him come back for one final match someday? Let us know your thoughts and sound off.