AJ Styles to Keep WWE Hall of Fame Speech 'Short and Sweet'

The former WWE Champion plans a concise induction ceremony address to avoid upsetting attendees.

Mar. 23, 2026 at 7:06am

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In a recent podcast interview, AJ Styles revealed details about his upcoming WWE Hall of Fame induction speech. The former WWE Champion, who retired from in-ring competition after losing to Gunther at the Royal Rumble, stated that he wants to keep his speech "short and sweet" to avoid upsetting other inductees' fans in attendance. Styles was given the news of his induction by The Undertaker on the February 23rd edition of WWE Raw from Atlanta, Georgia.

Why it matters

AJ Styles is one of the most popular and accomplished wrestlers of his generation, having won multiple world championships and critical acclaim for his in-ring work. His Hall of Fame induction is a significant milestone, and his approach to the speech reflects a desire to strike the right tone and avoid overshadowing the other honorees.

The details

In the interview, Styles said he doesn't want to "piss everybody off" with a long or controversial speech, acknowledging that there will be fans in attendance eager to see the induction of other legends. He plans to keep his remarks "short and sweet" while thanking the fans and his family for supporting him throughout his career, as he never expected to achieve the level of success he did.

  • AJ Styles was given the news of his induction by The Undertaker on the February 23, 2026 edition of WWE Raw from Atlanta, Georgia.
  • The 2026 class of the WWE Hall of Fame will be inducted on Friday, May 17, at Dolby Live at the MGM in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The players

AJ Styles

A former WWE Champion who is set to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2026 after retiring from in-ring competition.

The Undertaker

A legendary WWE Superstar who delivered the news of Styles' Hall of Fame induction on the February 23, 2026 edition of WWE Raw.

Gunther

The wrestler who defeated AJ Styles at the 2026 Royal Rumble, leading to Styles' retirement from in-ring competition.

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What they’re saying

“I'm gonna try not to piss everybody off who has come there to see all the other inductions... there's some guys that we've watched in the past, and you're going, 'Holy cow.' Everybody's thinking the same thing, like, 'Alright man, that was good, that was great.' So I'm gonna try to make sure that I stay within the guidelines of that and not make people hate AJ Styles based on his Hall of Fame induction speech.”

— AJ Styles

“Short and sweet, I think, is the best way to do it. I don't know exactly how it's gonna be or what I'm gonna say, but I know I've got a lot of people that I need to thank. I'm gonna try to do that and tell the fans how much I appreciate them for getting me this far because, listen, I look at me in the mirror and I know I never should have made it. So the fact that I did, that's a testament to the kind of fans that are out there.”

— AJ Styles

What’s next

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The takeaway

AJ Styles' approach to his WWE Hall of Fame speech reflects a thoughtful and considerate mindset, as he aims to strike the right tone and avoid overshadowing the other inductees. His humility and appreciation for the fans who supported him throughout his career are evident, underscoring the respect and admiration he has earned within the wrestling community.