AJ Styles WWE Contract: Rumored Expiry Dates, Details, and Future Plans

AJ Styles’ WWE contract has become one of the most discussed deals in professional wrestling, with recent whispers suggesting it could end right after WrestleMania 41 in April 2025. Industry insiders, including Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, believe the contract is set to expire late this year or in the early months of 2026, pending any extensions due to injury delays.

Reports also indicate that WWE added a short extension to his deal following his Lisfranc foot injury last October, pushing the end date just beyond spring. Other outlets suggest Styles’ agreement could lapse within the next 12 months, although WWE has not publicly commented on renewal talks. Here, we’ll go through article explores the most credible rumors about AJ Styles’ contract expiry, examines the known details of his WWE deal, and considers what the future might hold for “The Phenomenal One.”

Rumored Expiry Dates

Early reports from Ringside Intel note that Styles’ contract is “set to expire very soon” and will likely conclude right after WrestleMania 41 in April 2025. This aligns with longstanding chatter that his multi-year deal, originally inked upon his 2016 debut, was structured to culminate after WWE’s biggest annual show.

Meanwhile, Sean Ross Sapp confirmed on X that “many within the industry are of the belief that AJ Styles’ WWE contract expires late this year or early next year,” reinforcing the April 2025 timeline. Additional rumor columns have speculated on a late-2025 or even early-2026 expiry date, reflecting differing insider perspectives on possible clause-based extensions.

Contract Details and Extensions

While WWE rarely discloses contract specifics, multiple sources suggest Styles’ deal carries standard multi-million dollar guarantees, performance bonuses, and a clause allowing WWE to extend the term following major injuries. Reports indicate that after Styles suffered a Lisfranc injury on the October 4, 2024 SmackDown, WWE exercised that clause and tacked on a few extra months to his agreement, effectively shifting the expiry to post-WrestleMania 41.

Fightful has noted that this practice is common for top-tier talent, ensuring proper recuperation without contractual dispute. Despite these extensions, there remains no public word on whether WWE and Styles have entered formal renegotiation talks for a fresh multi-year commitment.

Future Plans and Free Agency

If Styles’ WWE contract does lapse after WrestleMania 41, he would enter free agency at 48—an age at which he’s hinted he may soon retire. “The Phenomenal One” has expressed a desire to finish his career in WWE, but a lucrative offer from AEW or a special arrangement with NJPW could sway his decision if WWE opts not to re-sign him.

Industry rumor mills have speculated about AEW outreach, given Styles’ longstanding friendships with talent there, although insiders caution that WWE may aim to lock him into a farewell storyline or Hall of Fame deal. Beyond in-ring plans, some reports suggest WWE could transition Styles into a backstage producer or mentor role if he chooses to remain under contract without wrestling full-time.