AJ Styles will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame over WrestleMania weekend.
WWE surprised AJ Styles on Monday Night Raw
The so-called Phenomenal One – who started his wrestling career back in 1998 – lost a retirement match to GUNTHER at last month’s Royal Rumble event, and the company honoured his legacy in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia during last night’s (23.02.26) episode of Monday Night Raw on Netflix.
After a heartfelt speech at the end of the show, Styles looked surprised as The Undertaker made his way to the ring.
The former world champion said: “Me and you, we’ve got unfinished business.
“AJ, did you ever hear the phrase, ‘If you see me coming, you’re already gone?’ I changed that phrase a little bit.
“Because if you see me coming, that means you’re going. AJ, it is my esteemed honour to inform you that you are the newest inductee in the 2026 class of the WWE Hall of Fame.”
The annual ceremony takes place in the build-up to WrestleMania, which will be held in Las Vegas on April 18-19.
Styles looked genuinely shocked as his beaming wife and kids hugged each other at ringside, having watched the show from the front row.
Earlier in the night, the decorated wrestler was greeted by many names from his past, including his time in TNA Wrestling, Japan, and earlier in his WWE run.
Backstage, the likes of Abyss, Bobby Roode, Petey Williams and Jeremy Borash appeared alongside Tama Tonga, Tonga Lao, the Good Brothers duo Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows, Shinsuke Nakamura, Michin and Omos.
Meanwhile, the entire roster appeared on the stage after his farewell speech, including CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn, Triple H and more.
In his emotional address, Styles said: “My debut was at the Royal Rumble in 2016, and my match, my last one against GUNTHER, was at the Royal Rumble in 2026.
“I know there are questions about [how] I didn’t leave my gloves in the ring. Well, here’s the thing.
“I am a man of my word, and at the end of the day, all we have is our word.”
At that point, he took off his jacket and laid it down in the ring, before referencing his gloves as he continued the symbolic retirement gesture.
He added: “I didn’t take off my gloves at the Royal Rumble… because I wanted to take them with my to the house, and come here to Atlanta and be in this ring and leave my gloves at home.
“From the bottom of my heart… I would’ve been nothing without you. Thank you for your love, and I love you right back. Thank you.”
Styles noted that he’s achievement “almost everything”, but now he will get the chance to be a “full-time father” to his kids after decades missing anniversaries, sports games, birthdays and more.
He continued: “Right here in front of God and everybody in Atlanta, Georgia, my biggest flex is having the best wife in the world.
“You never slowed me down, you never told me to stop. You kept pushing me forward, you held the family together even though I watched them grow on FaceTime.
“You’re The One. I love you. By the way, thank you guys for being here.”
