AJ Styles was forced to retire due to major injury; confession to best friend revealed

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His best friend, Karl Anderson, was in attendance for his retirement ceremony on RAW and recently revealed on Talk ‘n’ Shop that he had confided in him that he was struggling with a neck injury.

“We get to the back, I said, ‘AJ! I did not know you were really gonna retire.’ He goes, ‘Really!?’ I said, ‘Yeah. What do you mean ‘really,’ AJ? We haven’t spoke. How am I supposed to know if you’re really gonna retire or not?’ And he said, ‘Dude, I have to. My neck is hurting too bad. I’m beat up. It’s time. I want to help the next generation,’ and I go, ‘Well, I didn’t really believe it. So I just kept talking on my podcast about how you were not gonna retire, and you’re gonna go here and you’re gonna go there, and now, I gotta eat a lot of crow, pal.’”

It seems that Styles was able to perform in several high-profile matches despite a major injury.

AJ Styles will be added to the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame

AJ Styles was just as shocked as the WWE Universe when he was announced as the second inductee into the 2026 Hall of Fame on RAW.

The former World Champion was informed that he would be part of show by The Undertaker. Styles is the second star to be added to the event after Stephanie McMahon was announced for the WWE Hall of Fame last year.