AJ Styles’ in-ring career officially came to an end at the 2026 Royal Rumble, where “The Phenomenal One” fell to GUNTHER in a career-on-the-line showdown. The following night on WWE Raw, Styles received an emotional sendoff, capped off with confirmation that a WWE Hall of Fame induction is on the horizon.
But as it turns out, Styles once envisioned a very different ending to his story.
Speaking on Raw Recap: WWE Now, Styles admitted that there was a time when he fully expected to retire under the TNA banner — the company where he became a cornerstone star and helped build its identity during its formative years.
According to Styles, had TNA presented him with a comparable contract offer back in 2014, he likely never would have left.
He explained that he took pride in helping establish TNA as a legitimate wrestling promotion and had every intention of finishing his career there. However, circumstances changed. With TNA dealing with financial struggles at the time, Styles was reportedly asked to accept a significant pay cut — said to be around 60 percent. That proved to be the turning point.
Rather than re-sign under those terms, Styles bet on himself.
After departing TNA in early 2014, Styles revitalized his career on the global stage. He made high-profile stops in Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he further cemented his legacy and expanded his international reputation. That momentum ultimately led to his surprise debut in WWE as an entrant in the 2016 Men’s Royal Rumble — a moment that instantly reshaped the industry landscape.
Over the next decade, Styles built a résumé that erased any doubt about his place in WWE history. He captured the United States Championship, Intercontinental Championship, Raw Tag Team Championship, and most notably, the WWE Championship — a reign that solidified him as one of the defining stars of his era.
His final chapter came full circle at the 2026 Royal Rumble. Putting his career on the line against GUNTHER, Styles was ultimately defeated after “The Ring General” forced him to pass out to a sleeper hold. It was a fittingly hard-fought end for a competitor known for his resilience and elite in-ring ability.
While Styles once pictured his retirement happening in TNA, fate had other plans. Instead, he closes his career as a future WWE Hall of Famer — a testament to a journey that took risks, crossed borders, and ultimately redefined what was possible for a wrestler who built his name outside the WWE system.
In hindsight, turning down that TNA offer may have been the most important decision of his career.
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