For those who hoped to see AJ Styles in AEW, that is not going to happen, at least for the foreseeable future.
During his appearance on the latest episode of the Talk N Shop podcast with Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows, following his retirement from the ring Styles said he is still going to be working with WWE. Styles also said he has dreams of helping out younger talent.
“I’m still going to be working with WWE. That’s not going to change. I have these dreams of helping out young talent. If somebody is not ready once they get there, it’s my job to hopefully help them get to that point to where they can do it and they are confident when they step into a WWE ring. Being able to help with that is a blessing.”
Styles also squashed the speculation that WWE is putting him in the Hall of Fame to keep him from going to AEW.
“Let me give you something to talk about. So, everybody wants to say, ‘Oh! WWE put him [AJ Styles] in the Hall of Fame so that he couldn’t go to AEW.’ Guys, I am retired from wrestling in the ring. Like, that’s all this is. I make my own choices, I make my own decisions. I was ready.“
You can watch the full interview below:
We reported on Wednesday that Justin Barrasso at Undisputed, after speaking with those close to Styles, said he was ‘well aware’ that AEW head Tony Khan would have made him a “substantial offer” with a favorable schedule if he chose to wrestle outside of WWE.
Styles retired from in-ring competition, after his loss to Gunther at the Royal Rumble back on January 31. WWE held a tribute to Styles during this past Monday’s Raw in Atlanta. Towards the end of the segment, The Undertaker came out to annouce Styles as the newest inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame.