AJ Styles may be done wrestling, but the stories and laughs around The Phenomenal One are still going strong.
Styles wrestled his last WWE match on January 31, 2026, at the Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he lost to Gunther. The emotional loss and farewell left fans wondering if it was truly the end, but it has since been treated as his retirement match.
After his final match, Styles has been opening up about his WWE run and the close relationships he forged backstage.
AJ Styles Shares Funny Backstage Story About Feeling Old
One fun story recently came up during his appearance on What’s Your Story? with Stephanie McMahon, where Styles shared a funny nickname he picked up from Austin Theory. Styles said younger wrestlers often called him “Uncle Al,” a name he actually loved.
“It’s kind of funny. They call me ‘Uncle Al.’ So, I’m not quite old enough to be a grandpa but just an uncle right now,” Styles said. “That’s a cool thing. To me, it’s like, “I trust you…you’re family, dude.”
But Austin Theory took things a step further. “I’ll say this. Austin Theory calls me Dad,” Styles joked. When Stephanie reacted in a surprising manner, trying to hold her laugh, Styles admitted that he felt the same way.
As it turns out, Styles set himself up for it. He admitted he once told Theory he was old enough to be his father, and Theory never let it go. “It was my fault because I said, ‘Austin, I’m old enough to be your father,'” Styles revealed.
“So, he called me that and I thought, wait a second. He’s so freaking funny.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m alright with it,'” he added, while calling Theory a “goofball” and “awesome.”
Stephanie also revealed that Theory once told her how much she looked like his mother, to which Styles jokingly confessed, “We are at that point.”
Now 48, AJ Styles walks away with a legacy built on consistency, creativity, and respect. Meanwhile, 28-year-old Austin Theory looks to ascend the ranks in WWE. The former United States Champion is currently part of The Vision on Monday Night RAW, alongside Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, and Paul Heyman.
Read More: AJ Styles’ WWE Royal Rumble Exit Sparks Concern About His Career Ending
