Summary

AJ Styles had a lighthearted answer after a fan claimed WWE had bribed him to keep him away from AEW.

Styles retired from in-ring competition in January after losing to Gunther in a match with his career on the line. He was later told during a WWE Raw ceremony by The Undertaker that he will be part of the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame class.

Since stepping away from the ring, Styles has also moved into a scouting and training role with the company.

AJ Styles responds on social media

Styles answered the fan directly on X with a short response that leaned into the joke.

"If bribing me leads to getting the job that I want, that's great."

What this means for AJ Styles in WWE

Styles' response adds to the picture WWE has already presented for his post-retirement role. With AJ Styles now working in scouting and training, and recently spending time at the WWE Performance Center with NXT talent including Lexis King, this looks more like the start of a long-term backstage chapter than any serious tease about an AEW move.

Sources

AJ Styles via X