• AJ Styles Reportedly Knew AEW’s Plan
The rapid conclusion of AJ Styles’ career at Royal Rumble 2026 sparked immediate rumors that The Phenomenal One might be eyeing a jump to AEW, especially given how quickly WWE moved toward his final match.
However, any lingering hopes for a Tony Khan-led surprise at the upcoming Revolution pay-per-view on March 15 were effectively crushed during the latest episode of RAW when Styles left his gear in the ring, signaling a firm end to his active career.
A new report from Justin Barrasso of Undisputed suggests that WWE’s decision to fast-track Styles into the Hall of Fame Class of 2026 was a strategic chess move. By inducting him immediately, WWE effectively locked Styles into their ecosystem, making an AEW debut in the near future impossible.
While those close to Styles insist he was sincere about wanting to stay home with his family, they also admit he was fully aware that All Elite Wrestling was prepared to pitch a massive contract — one that likely offered a lucrative part-time schedule designed to keep him off the road.
RELATED: AJ Styles Retired Due To Ongoing Health Issues (Details)
• How Much Money The Rock Made From WWE In 2024 & 2025
New SEC filings tied to TKO’s earnings report reveal how much money Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson earned from WWE across 2024 and 2025. In January 2024, Johnson signed a services agreement with WWE and was appointed to the TKO Board as a WWE director designee. As part of that deal, WWE transferred ownership of “The Rock” trademark and related intellectual property to Johnson through one of his affiliates. In return, Johnson agreed to license the branding and his likeness back to WWE for wrestling-related products for up to 10 years.
The financial centerpiece of the agreement was a restricted stock unit (RSU) award valued at $30 million. WWE recorded $17.7 million in equity-based compensation tied to that award in 2024 and an additional $4.0 million in 2025.
Beyond stock compensation, Johnson also received royalty payments from WWE. The company paid him $0.9 million in royalties in 2024 and another $0.9 million in 2025 for licensed products using his name and intellectual property.
He was also reimbursed for travel related to his WWE services. Those reimbursements totaled $2.6 million in 2024 and $0.6 million in 2025.
Based on the disclosed figures, The Rock’s total compensation connected to WWE across 2024 and 2025 includes $21.7 million in recognized stock compensation, $1.8 million in royalties, and $3.2 million in travel reimbursements — with the broader $30 million stock grant forming the foundation of the deal.
The Rock was last seen on WWE programming at the Elimination Chamber 2025 premium live event on March 1, 2025, where he was involved in John Cena’s heel turn.
RELATED: The Rock Addresses WrestleMania 43 Return Rumors
