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Inside AJ Styles Tribute Show in Atlanta: Surprises & Hall of Fame News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Steven Harrison | Last updated Feb 21, 2026 4:31 PM ET

One of professional wrestling’s greatest in-ring performers, AJ Styles, officially retired at the 2026 Royal Rumble.

The timing surprised nearly everyone. Styles had announced that 2026 would be his final year of active competition, but few expected his last match to come so early, in January. His defeat to Gunther has further cemented the “Career Killer," who has now claimed Goldberg, John Cena, and Styles himself.

Speaking of Cena, the recently retired legend continues to speak highly of his friendship and professional respect for Styles. On the No Contest Wrestling podcast this past week, Cena shared behind-the-scenes details about their famed Crown Jewel match.

Before WWE heads to Chicago for Elimination Chamber, the go-home edition of Raw will serve as a special “AJ Styles Tribute Show” in his home state of Georgia. Here’s what fans can expect.

TNA Crossover

While TNA wasn’t Styles' first promotion, it’s where he truly became a star. WWE’s official partnership with TNA has allowed them to use classic footage, and expect more of it on Monday. Current TNA stars, such as Frankie Kazarian, may also appear, either live or via video. A live appearance would be particularly special, giving Kazarian a moment on WWE’s flagship program after his own 20-year journey away from the company.

Gallows & Anderson

WWE shouldn't ignore them.

Since their February 2025 release, the tag team has been quietly active in New Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah, but a one-night Bullet Club reunion for Styles’ tribute is almost a given.

Full Locker Room on Stage

Like past tributes for icons such as Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair, expect the full roster of Raw, SmackDown, and NXT stars to honor Styles. There’s speculation that big names—perhaps John Cena—could make a rare on-screen appearance, complete with entrance music, to personally pay tribute. If so, it would mark Cena’s first TV appearance since his retirement at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Hall of Fame Announcement

The night could also serve as the perfect lead-in to Styles’ Hall of Fame induction. His WWE contract status remains uncertain, but reports suggest the company is pursuing a legends deal to secure him and his assets while providing ongoing financial benefits. With WWE 2K26 launching and WrestleMania approaching, Styles’ presence could be lucrative—especially merchandise sales at WWE World during Mania week.

Currently, only Stephanie McMahon has been confirmed for the Hall of Fame class. Pairing her with Styles as co-headliners makes sense: their recent What’s Your Story? podcast highlighted strong chemistry, and Styles is the most relevant attraction WWE could add this year.

As a 20-year fan of AJ Styles, I’ll be watching closely and providing live coverage of the Tribute Show here on Athlon Sports.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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