Triple H Addresses AJ Styles’ WWE Future After Retirement at Royal Rumble

AJ Styles’ legendary WWE career may have ended in the ring at Royal Rumble: Riyadh—but his future with the company could be just beginning behind the scenes.

Speaking during the Royal Rumble post-show, Triple H was asked directly whether there had been any internal talks about Styles potentially staying with WWE in a different capacity following his emotional loss to GUNTHER. The response was telling.

“We’ve had a lot of conversations, especially once this all came down,” Triple H said. “Obviously, we expected it later in the year, but we talked about it quite a bit. AJ is absolutely one of those people who wants to give back and be a part of this business.”

While he clarified that he didn’t want to speak for Styles entirely, The Game made it clear that Styles’ intent—at least for now—is to step away from competition.

“In the conversation he had with me, he made it very clear that he was just done with the in-ring part. There’s a point in your career where you reach a place and you say, ‘I don’t want to do this anymore. It’s time.’”

But that doesn’t mean WWE is done with Styles. Triple H floated the idea of a transition similar to Shawn Michaels’ post-retirement career, where Styles could take on a mentorship, coaching, or even production role.

“I’m hoping he will contribute, because he’s one of the greatest minds in the business. When you see what Shawn Michaels is doing in NXT, I think that’s a path and a career for AJ Styles beyond this period he’s in.”

The comment comes after Styles’ retirement match against GUNTHER, a brutal war that ended with Styles passing out in a sleeper hold—prompting the referee to stop the match. The crowd in Riyadh responded with thunderous “Thank you AJ” chants as he teased leaving his gloves behind before ultimately keeping them on.

Despite that moment, speculation over Styles’ next move hasn’t slowed down. He recently filed trademarks for his ring name and logo, leading some to believe he might explore work outside of WWE or even internationally. But if Triple H has his way, the next chapter for The Phenomenal One will still be inside WWE—just on the other side of the ropes.

Would you like to see AJ Styles join WWE’s coaching or creative team? Or would you rather see him pop up in another promotion entirely? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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