AJ Styles Came Close to Leaving WWE for AEW in 2025

TLDR

According to a January 29, 2026 report from Self Made Pro, AJ Styles was very close to joining AEW in 2025 before making a last-minute decision to re-sign with WWE on a one-year extension through February 2026. The report claims Styles had "absolutely" decided to go to AEW for a brief period before ultimately choosing to stay with WWE for one final run. This news comes just days before Styles is scheduled to face GUNTHER in a career vs. title match at the Royal Rumble on January 31, 2026.