AJ Styles has clarified that he is not currently a full-time coach for WWE NXT, stepping in temporarily to fill a vacancy left by coach Terry Taylor following knee surgery. The 49-year-old wrestling veteran, who retired from the ring in January and entered the WWE Hall of Fame, is contributing to behind-the-scenes roles like scouting and the WWE ID program while evaluating his long-term post-wrestling career.
Fantasy & Market Impact
- In-Ring Status: Styles remains officially retired since January, though he has left the door open for a potential future tag team run alongside his wrestling-debuting son, Avery.
- Talent Development: His temporary stint at the WWE NXT Performance Center focuses heavily on practical application, innovative footwork drills, and preventing class redundancy.
- Creative Involvement: Despite assisting with production on matches like the Tony D’Angelo vs. Naraku street fight and the Kendal Grey vs. Lola Vice NXT Underground match alongside Johnny Moss, Styles maintains no interest in working in creative.
Stepping Into the Performance Center: The Temporary Coaching Reality
The rumor mill surrounding AJ Styles’ exact day-to-day responsibilities within the WWE developmental ecosystem can finally be put to rest. Following weeks of speculation regarding his prominent presence at the WWE Performance Center, Styles addressed his current status directly on a recent episode of the AJ Styles Show podcast.
The reality on the ground is purely situational. As Styles explained, a familiar face in the NXT coaching staff needed medical intervention.
“Well, so let me clear this up, by the way,” Styles said on the podcast. “One of our coaches had to get knee surgery. I have now taken his place until he’s back. I am not a coach, per se, that’s down here every week. I am just filling in until he’s back. That’s it.”
This short-term substitution mirrors a notable historical precedent within the brand. Back in 2016, Shawn Michaels—who now oversees the entire brand—similarly got his start as an NXT coach by stepping in to cover for Terry Taylor when Taylor required neck surgery.
Revamping the Curriculum and Tactical Approach
Even on a temporary basis, Styles is leaving a distinct tactical imprint on the roster. Rather than running out the clock with standard developmental drills, the veteran analyst is reworking training methodologies to combat monotony and force athletes into active problem-solving.
“And I’m going to tell you guys, I’m actually having a lot of fun with it,” Styles noted. “And I’m trying to make everything that we do very, very practical. Because this is what I see going on, so we’re going to do this and this right here and make sense of why you’re doing it. I want to see your feetwork — feetwork or footwork, I’m not sure how you say that — but little things like that.”
By forcing trainees out of their comfort zones, Styles aims to boost engagement. He emphasizes that repetition breeds complacency in a training environment.
“I’m changing stuff up a little bit, because the more you do the same thing over and over, the less you want to come to class and work hard,” Styles stated. “Because it gets redundant. So I’m trying to change things up a little bit but not take away from what they already know. First of all, doing something you don’t know how to do is always harder. And so when we change it up, it’s harder for the talent — also a little bit more exciting and keeps you interested.”
Behind the Scenes: Scouting, Producing, and Future Horizon
Since hanging up his boots in January and earning his WWE Hall of Fame induction, Styles’ post-retirement contract has quietly positioned him as a vital asset across multiple operational verticals. Beyond his temporary classroom duties, his workload includes talent scouting and hands-on contributions to the WWE ID program.
| Role / Responsibility | Current Status | Context |
|---|---|---|
| NXT Coaching Coverage | Temporary | Filling in for Terry Taylor following knee surgery. |
| Match Production | Active Contributor | Assisted with the Tony D’Angelo vs. Naraku street fight and Kendal Grey vs. Lola Vice NXT Underground bout alongside Johnny Moss. |
| Scouting & WWE ID | Permanent Post-Retirement | Core focus of his new WWE contract. |
| Creative Writing | No Interest | Styles has explicitly declined involvement in creative. |
Production credits are already piling up on his resume. Alongside NXT coach Johnny Moss, Styles helped produce recent high-profile bouts, including the Kendal Grey vs. Lola Vice NXT Underground match. According to Styles, elite performers make the producer’s job straightforward, noting that he and Moss barely had to intervene because Grey and Vice executed their assignments at an exceptionally high level.
While a permanent, full-time coaching position in NXT remains an open question for down the road, one avenue is entirely closed: creative writing. Styles has made it clear he has zero desire to work in creative.
As for his boots, a permanent retirement remains the official line since January, but the door is not bolted shut. The prospect of an eventual, one-off in-ring return remains a distant possibility, heavily contingent on a very specific family-driven scenario: the chance to team up with his children, particularly his son Avery, who has recently taken his first steps into the professional wrestling industry.
Disclaimer: The fantasy and market insights provided are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial or betting advice.
