At WWE Royal Rumble 2026, GUNTHER defeated AJ Styles to retire “The Phenomenal One” from the company.
Then just over two weeks later on the February 16 episode of WWE Raw, the company announced that Styles would return for a tribute show in his home state of Georgia.
This may lead to something being announced or revealed during this tribute to the former two-time WWE Champion.
Here are seven potential AJ Styles WWE tribute show plans.
7. Announcing WWE Legends Deal
Following WWE Royal Rumble 2026, rumors and reports circulated in regards to AJ Styles’ contract status with the company.
In the fall of 2025, it was revealed that Styles’ WWE deal was set to expire in February 2026, and since then there has been no word on a new contract being agreed.
While there hasn’t been any reports suggesting it be the case, we could perhaps see the announcement that Styles and WWE have come to an agreement on a new deal during his tribute show on Raw.
Considering his recent statements about wanting to settle down and spend more time with his family, Styles could announce that he has signed a WWE Legends deal to remain with the company instead of exploring his options outside of it.
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6. GUNTHER Interrupts
Following his retirement from WWE at Royal Rumble 2026, AJ Styles has been taunted by his rival GUNTHER.
On the February 2 episode of Monday Night Raw, “The Ring General” came out to Styles’ theme music and laughed at his demise.
Adding his name to a list of legends he has overcome, GUNTHER has ended the careers of Styles, Goldberg and John Cena over the past year.
“The Career Killer” interrupting this tribute to AJ Styles could be yet another angle to further push this new persona for GUNTHER in an impactful way.
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5. Special Guest Referee For GUNTHER vs. Dragon Lee Grudge Match
As previously mentioned, GUNTHER appeared on the February 2 Monday Night Raw to taunt AJ Styles after his win to retire the former WWE Champion at Royal Rumble 2026.
This led to Dragon Lee coming out to attack “The Ring General” until GUNTHER nailed him with a ring bell and choked him out with a sleeper over the top rope.
Then on the February 16 episode of Raw, Lee got a measure of revenge on GUNTHER using the ring bell to knock him out and cost him his Elimination Chamber qualifying match against Je’Von Evans and Dominik Mysterio.
If “The Career Killer” gets involved with his tribute, Styles could be announced as the special guest referee for the upcoming GUNTHER vs. Dragon Lee grudge match.
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4. Announcing That He’s Heading To TNA Wrestling To Close Out His Career
On the January 15 AMC premiere edition of TNA Thursday Night Impact, AJ Styles made a return to the company to kick off this new era.
While Styles retired from WWE at Royal Rumble 2026, it does leave the door open for him to return to a partner promotion.
Considering his connection and history in TNA Wrestling, “The Phenomenal One” could make an in-ring comeback in the place he first made a name for himself.
This tribute to Styles in Atlanta, Georgia could have an announcement of him heading back to TNA Wrestling to close out his in-ring career officially.
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3. Becoming NXT General Manager
At the end of January 2026, NXT General Manager Ava announced her departure from WWE after her contract expired.
With Ava exiting, WWE announced that Robert Stone was going to serve as the interim NXT GM for the time being.
AJ Styles being announced as the new NXT General Manager could be a great way for “The Phenomenal One” to continue to contribute to WWE.
Styles becoming NXT GM could see him following in the footsteps of one of his idols, Shawn Michaels and also becoming a trainer at the WWE Performance Center.
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2. Announcing WWE Hall of Fame Induction
WWE is officially on the “Road to WrestleMania 42” with one of the premier events of the weekend being the Hall of Fame ceremony.
AJ Styles has contributed so much to WWE over the past 10 years, including two reigns as WWE Champion.
With everything that he has accomplished in his run with WWE, it would be fitting if he was inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.
This tribute to “The Phenomenal One” could be the stage for Styles to announce his official induction into the WWE Hall of Fame 2026 in Las Vegas this April.
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1. Brock Lesnar Crashes The Tribute
At WWE Royal Rumble 2026, Brock Lesnar made his return to the company as an entrant in the Men’s Royal Rumble Match.
The company later announced that Lesnar would make another return on the February 23 edition of WWE Raw from Atlanta, Georgia.
Considering WWE just announced a tribute to AJ Styles, these two appearances could be linked and be a backdrop for a major interaction between the two legendary stars.
Lesnar crashing Styles’ tribute could set the stage for a showdown between the two former WWE Champions potentially at WrestleMania 42.
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