Top star may have subtly hinted that AJ Styles is joining AEW

One of AEW’s top names and current champions has seemingly teased the possibility of AJ Styles returning to in-ring competition. The star in question, MJF, has a massive title defense scheduled for later this week.

Courtesy of a timely distraction from Hangman Adam Page, Maxwell Jacob Friedman suffered an unexpected and crushing defeat at the hands of Brody King last week on Dynamite. The victory earned the Hounds of Hell member a shot at MJF’s AEW Men’s World Championship, scheduled for Grand Slam Australia this coming Saturday.

Enroute to his imminent title showdown against “Big Bad” Brody, The Salt of the Earth appeared in an interview on Insight With Chris Van Vliet recently. In it, Friedman was asked by the interviewer whether he thinks about how much longer he planned to continue wrestling, given his inroads into acting as of late. MJF responded by claiming that this was not a consideration for him at the moment because he is still young. He then alluded to John Cena and AJ Styles’ recent retirements.

While speaking about the end of The Phenomenal One’s WWE career, however, the self-proclaimed generational talent used air quotes, seemingly insinuating that Styles might return to in-ring competition– perhaps even signaling him jumping ship to AEW.

“No, because I’m young, the idea hasn’t even entered my head, like when I was watching that John Cena retirement, or the AJ Styles “retirement.”” [H/T – ProWrestling.net]

It remains to be seen whether Friedman will survive Brody King in Sydney this weekend.

Another top name does not believe AJ Styles has the guts to show up in AEW

At the end of January, at the 2026 Royal Rumble, AJ Styles lost to Gunther in a blockbuster singles match with his WWE career at stake. The Prince of Phenomenal has furthermore been linked with rumors of a potential All Elite Wrestling move for weeks now. While fans are eager to see the former WWE Champion in the Tony Khan-led promotion, Ricochet claimed while appearing on The Adrian Hernandez Show that Styles may elect to avoid AEW because he may be unable to keep up with the company’s current top names and quality of in-ring product.

“I don’t think he’s got the guts. I know he’s the Phenomenal AJ Styles, but the bar’s been raised over here. Wherever he goes, he’s getting old. The dropkick isn’t as high as it used to be. He wants to come here and compete with Ricochet, The Demand, Tommaso Ciampa, and Kazuchika Okada? Come on, AJ. Come on, AJ—it’s a different ball game. This is where the best wrestle.”

It remains to be seen whether AJ Styles will officially go All Elite anytime soon.