Triple H: AJ Styles Sat In On Some WWE Creative & Production Meetings, He Figured Those Roles Were Not For Him

Styles figured he was more geared for talent development.

The final match of A.J. Styles’ pro wrestling career was at the 2026 WWE Royal Rumble Premium Live Event, where he fell in defeat to GUNTHER. Styles’ WWE career started at the 2016 Royal Rumble, and it ended a decade later at the same event.

Styles is remaining with WWE and is taking on a behind-the-scenes role. WWE Chief Content Officer Paul ‘Triple H’ shared details about how Styles came to that decision as he was chatting with Cody Rhodes on What Do You Wanna Talk About?

Looking back at Styles’ final bout, Levesque revealed that Styles told him he was just looking to get to the end of the match. He went on to state that Styles has sat in on WWE creative and production meetings, but figured those lanes were not for him. Levesque said they came to the conclusion that Styles is more geared for a talent development role.

“Like A.J. Styles just retired. So, at the end, A.J. was like, ‘I just don’t wanna be done with the business. I wanna be done wrestling,’ and I don’t think I’m betraying (his) confidence here but, even in his last match, he was telling me, ‘I so know I’m done because I was out there in that last match thinking, will this just get over with? I just wanna get to the end.’ But he wants to participate in the business. But, being an agent or a producer, it’s a different world. Being in what we do, there’s different fits for different people. A.J. came in, he sat in on some creative meetings, he sat in on some production meetings, and I think he realized, woof, 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 and 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, and grab those talents there.”

Styles is going to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class. To read more on Styles’ new role with the company, check out his comments here.

If the quote in this article is used, please credit What Do You Wanna Talk About? with an H/T to Fightful for the transcription.