WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk recently shared his thoughts on whether AJ Styles will truly retire following the Royal Rumble 2026 event. Although Styles was defeated by Gunther and faced the retirement stipulation, his gesture of leaving his signature gloves on in the ring has fueled speculation about a potential comeback.
Speaking on the Pat McAfee Show, Punk said, “Who knows? I don’t know. I know what he told me behind the scenes, but that’s for nobody else to worry about.” He also suggested that if a big event like WrestleMania were to take place in Atlanta, and a classic hard-hitting fight was needed, Styles—referred to as “nasty Allen Jones”—could still return for a memorable street fight reminiscent of legends like Bruno Sammartino and ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage from the late 1980s.
Additionally, on this week’s WWE Raw episode, it was confirmed that CM Punk will defend his World Heavyweight Title against Roman Reigns as the main event of WrestleMania 42.
Fan Take: This speculation around AJ Styles’ retirement keeps fans eagerly guessing about the future direction of WWE storylines. If Styles does make a surprise return, it could add an exciting dynamic to upcoming events and further elevate the sport’s legacy.
