“He’s my guy” – 13-time WWE Tag Team Champion broke character and consoled AJ Styles immediately after his retirement

AJ Styles has revealed that a multi-time WWE Tag Team Champion broke character to console him after his retirement.

Styles retired after losing to Gunther at the WWE Royal Rumble 2026 Premium Live Event. The Phenomenal One had agreed to put his career on the line in his rematch with The Ring General and eventually passed out to the Sleeper Hold, which previously forced John Cena to submit in his retirement match on December 13th, 2025.

Speaking on What’s Your Story? Styles revealed that Xavier Woods immediately came up to him after his retirement, and the two shared a hug in a special moment.

“And Shane Helms comes up and kind of grabs me and he said, ‘It’s alright, you’re good man, you don’t have to turn your back.’ It meant so much for him to come up and see me. Then Jolene our seamstress comes up and she’s hugging on me. Then Xavier comes up and I probably squeezed him the hardest because I’ve known him for so long and seeing him do so well in so many different things, it was a special moment. I squeezed him hard, he’s my guy. I squeezed a lot of people hard that night, it’s like you said (Stephanie McMahon) we might not be able to talk to each other like we used to but when we see each other it’s like no time is passed. We still know each other, it’ll still be the biggest hug.” said Styles.

Shinsuke Nakamura’s tribute to AJ Styles

Shinsuke Nakamura paid tribute to AJ Styles after the two superstars shared the ring one final time at Saturday Night’s Main Event XLIII.

During his appearance on Stephanie McMahon’s What’s Your Story? Styles received several tributes from top names. Nakamura said this:

AJ’s special to a lot of people but for me he’s more than that. He’s one of my best friends and sometimes I feel like he’s a brother. I miss him already.”

AJ Styles’ last-ever WWE win was over Nakamura, unless The Phenomenal One decides to retuat rn some point in the future.