AJ Styles has retired from in-ring competition. The 48-year-old’s last match took place at the 2026 Royal Rumble against Gunther in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, the Undertaker revealed on this week’s Raw that the former World Champion is getting inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame’s class of 2026.

Tony Khan is a massive admirer of the Phenomenal star. Fans were expecting the latter to join AEW once his WWE contract ended. However, a recent update has left them disappointed.

According to PWInsider, Styles has agreed on a new deal that will keep him in the Stamford-based company. He will stay in the sports entertainment juggernaut in a non-wrestling role. All Elite Wrestling fans on Twitter reacted to this news with dismay. One user wrote that the Jacksonville-based company had almost acquired him, while another wrote that the 48-year-old has finally sold out.

See their reactions below:

AEW star Tommaso Ciampa showers AJ Styles with praise

98.5 KYGO recently interviewed former AEW TNT Champion Tommaso Ciampa. In this conversation, the Psycho Killer showered the legend with praise. He said that the 48-year-old has had an amazing career, and he is free to do anything he wants to.

“He’s earned the right to do whatever he wants at this point, and if that means he hangs it up and does the family thing, good for him. If that means he just takes a break and then decides, hey, I’m gonna do one off here, one off here, good for him. Whatever he decides, man, he’s earned it. He’s proven to be the best everywhere he’s went,” he said. [H/T: Fightful]

Only time will tell what the future holds for the former TNA World Heavyweight Champion. Hopefully, he will eventually make an AEW appearance someday.