AJ Styles Explains Why He Didn’t Remove His Gloves After Career-Threatening Loss to Gunther

AJ Styles may have lost a career-threatening match at the 2026 WWE Royal Rumble, but there was one move he didn’t make—and it has fans talking.

Following his defeat to Gunther, many expected Styles to leave his gloves in the ring, the classic symbol of retirement in pro wrestling. But when he didn’t, speculation ran wild. Now, Styles himself is explaining why. In a conversation on Stephanie McMahon’s podcast, Styles addressed the decision:

“I don’t know. Never say never, right? That’s the saying. I think everybody’s allowed at least once to come out of retirement. I’m not saying that I’ll do it anytime soon.”

And while he didn’t commit to a comeback, he left the door cracked just wide enough for a future moment fans would never forget:

“What if my son wrestles? The opportunity to tag with him once? You never know. So, there’ll be a time when the gloves never go back on. It may be now, but we’ll see.”

The gloves stayed on. And maybe that’s because AJ Styles isn’t ready to say goodbye forever—at least, not yet.

Do you think AJ Styles should make a comeback down the line? Or should the Royal Rumble loss mark the end of the road? Let us know what you think in the comments.