Karl Anderson Says AJ Styles Is Retired For Real, Didn’t Expect Him To End His Career In WWE
Karl Anderson didn’t believe AJ Styles’ retirement in WWE was really the end.
The February 23 edition of Monday Night RAW saw WWE stage a tribute to AJ Styles in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, with several key figures from his career in attendance, including Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows, collectively known as The Good Brothers.
During the latest episode of Talk’n Shop, Karl Anderson revealed that he had not expected AJ Styles to finish his career in WWE, admitting he believed Styles would instead make a move to AEW, TNA, or another promotion before ultimately hanging up his boots.
“I said this is exactly what I said I thought was gonna happen. I said, ‘AJ Styles is gonna leave the WWE, and go to AEW or TNA, or go work.’ I did not think that he was going to finish up in the WWE. I did not think so.”
-Karl Anderson
Prior to this week’s RAW, many fans believed Styles’ “retirement” would pave the way for him to leave WWE and potentially join All Elite Wrestling or return to New Japan Pro Wrestling. However, following his farewell speech and the subsequent announcement of his Hall of Fame induction, that prospect now appears increasingly unlikely.
It appears Anderson shared the belief of many that Styles would not truly be retiring for good at the Royal Rumble, as he spoke about Styles revealing that he has been dealing with neck pain and feels now is the right time to step away from the ring.
“We get to the back [after WWE RAW in Atlanta]. I said, ‘AJ, I did not know you were really going to retire.’ He goes, ‘Really?’ I say, ‘Yeah, what do you mean, really, AJ? We haven’t spoke. How am I supposed to know if you’re really going to retire or not?’ 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 just didn’t really believe it. I just kept talking on my podcast about how you were not going to retire and you’re going to go here and you’re going to go there. And now I got to eat a lot of crow, pal.’ It’s my esteemed honor to humbly apologize for giving anybody false hope that AJ Styles was not going to retire. Clearly, I was wrong. He shoot retired.”
-Karl Anderson
AJ Styles and The Good Brothers were first united under the banner of Bullet Club in New Japan Pro Wrestling and later achieved success in WWE as a trio known as The Club, later renamed The OC, in a nod to their time in Japan.
While it now seems certain that we have seen the last of Styles inside the squared circle, ‘The Phenomenal One’ was reportedly aware that All Elite Wrestling were prepared to make him a substantial offer. You can read more about that here.
As always, we’ll aim to provide any further updates on AJ Styles’ future as soon as we hear more.
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