Huge WWE Name Says WrestleMania Has LOST Its Lustre (WWE News)
Outgoing star aims fire in random blast at WWE's biggest annual PLE: WrestleMania!
AJ Styles has sensationally claimed that WrestleMania, WWE's biggest annual event, has "kind of lost its lustre a little bit" in recent years. The retiring star, who called time on his in-ring career with the market leader by losing to Gunther over in Saudi Arabia at last month's Royal Rumble show, was answering why he'd retired on that PLE instead of 'Mania during an episode of Raw Recap.
It's simple: To AJ, WrestleMania isn't what it used to be.
Initially, the creative team pondered whether or not they should stretch the Styles retirement story out until reaching Las Vegas, but AJ himself didn't really see the need for that. Besides, he pointed out that he'd debuted in WWE at the 2016 Rumble, so it was a full circle moment for him personally to wave goodbye as an active wrestler on the 2026 version.
Since then, WWE has held a tribute night for Styles. That happened on Monday's episode of flagship show Raw, and included news that AJ will be inducted into the 2026 Hall Of Fame. The Undertaker stopped by to deliver that news, which reportedly came as a complete surprise to the 'Phenomenal One' - he didn't know that 'Taker was backstage to reveal he was going into the HOF.
Styles isn't ruling out a return to wrestling someday, but that probably won't be for a while. He's looking forward to some time at home with his family after around 28 years on the road as a pro wrestler. His comments about 'Mania will turn some heads though, that's for sure.