Triple H Says AJ Styles Didn’t Want To Be A WWE Writer Or Producer After Retirement

Triple H has discussed the in-ring retirement of AJ Styles earlier this year and his new role working behind-the-scenes in WWE.

After an over 25 year in-ring career AJ Styles wrapped things up at the 2026 WWE Royal Rumble premium live event, with “The Phenomenal One” bowing out with a loss to GUNTHER.

While there was plenty of speculation amongst fans that Styles could potentially resume his career outside of WWE, that will not be the case as Styles has instead taken up a talent development role in the company.

During his appearance on What Do You Wanna Talk About? With Cody Rhodes, Triple H addressed Styles’ post-retirement role, saying that the former two-time WWE quickly realized that being a backstage agent or writer was not for him.

Triple H said:

“AJ Styles just retired. At the end, AJ was like ‘I don’t want to just be done with the business, I want to be done wrestling.’ I don’t think I’m betraying his confidence here, but in his last match, he was telling me ‘I know I’m done because I was out there in that last match thinking, let’s get it over with. I just want to get to the end.’

“But he wants to participate in the business. Being an agent or producer, it’s a different world. Being in what we do, there’s different fits for different people.

“AJ came in, he sat in on some creative meetings, he sat in on some production meetings, and I think he realised ‘The writing thing is not for me. The producer thing, I don’t think is for me. What I really like is getting to these young kids and spotting talent, then trying to help fan the flames of the little spark that’s there, and try to make them into something more, the developmental side of it.’

“So great, let’s utilize him in that way, and grab those talents there.”

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As well as his role behind-the-scenes, Styles will be recognized for his contributions inside the ring at this year’s WWE Hall of Fame ceremony on Friday, April 17, where he will be inducted alongside Stephanie McMahon, Demolition, Dennis Rodman, Sid and Bad News Brown.

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