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Shane McMahon congratulates AJ Styles: ‘You set the bar’

Posted: Feb 2nd 2026 By: Ian Carey

Shane McMahon says that AJ Styles will go down as one of the greatest in-ring performers ever.

On Sunday, McMahon posted to Instagram about his WrestleMania 33 opponent, writing:

“AJ Styles will go down in history as one of the greatest in ring performers ever!
Thank you for your friendship and giving it your absolute best to entertain us all every single time you stepped through the ropes. You set the bar for current and future talent, let’s see if they can reach it. Congratulations on a Phenomenal career.”

Styles vs. Gunther at Saturday’s Royal Rumble carried the stipulation that Styles’ career was over if he lost. Following the match, it appeared as though he was going to leave his gloves in the ring, but he ultimately put them back on before exiting the ring area. This was addressed on Sunday’s edition of Wrestling Observer Radio by Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez.

“He does not leave his gloves in the ring. So of course, after the show all anybody could talk about was ‘When’s he going to AEW?'” Alvarez said on the show.