WWE has announced a special tribute for AJ Styles in Atlanta on RAW next week. The Phenomenal One appeared to have wrestled his final match at the Royal Rumble 2026 in Saudi Arabia against Gunther. Since Styles lost, this was supposed to be his final match as an active competitor.<\/p>\n
However, the Phenomenal One put his gloves back on, and his future with WWE remains uncertain. Nonetheless, despite the uncertainty surrounding his status, the company has announced a special tribute for the legendary star. Here, we take a look back at AJ Styles’ “phenomenal” WWE career.<\/p>\n
Before debuting stars on the big leagues on RAW or SmackDown, WWE likes to test them out on NXT, which is the definitive proving ground. Shinsuke Nakamura and Finn Balor were all major stars before they landed in the Stamford-based promotion, but the company still had them spend time on NXT.<\/p>\n
Styles’ longtime rival and fellow TNA stalwart, Samoa Joe, also won multiple championships on the black and yellow brand. However, the Phenomenal One received a free pass to the main roster. The Ace of TNA made his shocking debut in the 2016 Men’s Royal Rumble match, stepping inside a WWE arena for the first time.<\/p>\n
This was a rarity back in the day. Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and all the “Four Horsewomen” had to prove themselves on NXT before being called up to the main roster. WWE had faith in Styles, who was an established veteran. The Phenomenal One paved the way for others like Dominik Mysterio, Logan Paul, and Penta, who made the trip straight to the main roster.<\/p>\n