AEW: Ricochet on Idea of AJ Styles Joining AEW After His WWE Retirement, Je’Von Evans on His Past Experience in AEW & AEW Gave Him The Opportunities for His Career That Led To His WWE Signing, Backstage Update on Tommaso Ciampa’s AEW Signing

Jan 31, 2026

Ricochet Comments on Idea of AJ Styles Joining AEW After His WWE Retirement

As noted before, AJ Styles is currently set to retire from his in-ring wrestling career at some point in 2026. Styles is currently scheduled to face off against Gunther at today’s WWE Royal Rumble 2026 event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This upcoming match is notable for Styles’ putting his career on the line and Styles mentioning in a promo segment at this past Monday’s WWE RAW show that this could potentially be his last WWE match.

In a recent response to a fan on Twitter, Ricochet responded in character stating that Styles’ “old ass” isn’t coming to AEW and for people to not get their hopes up.

This fan stated “is it happening guys?? 🤔” and posted a mock up image of Styles getting the #AllElite signing graphic treatment should he lose his match against Gunther. Ricochet responded stating “His old ass isnt coming to my company. Dont get your hopes up. He’s too old and scared. #Ahaa 👑“

His old ass isnt coming to my company. Dont get your hopes up. He’s too old and scared. #Ahaa 👑 https://t.co/FgTaCi8Wyh
— Lightskin Kingpin (@KingRicochet) January 30, 2026

In an interesting note, Ricochet wrestled once against Styles in the indies and six times in singles matches during their time together in WWE.

Je’Von Evans Comments on His Past Experience in AEW & How AEW Gave Him The Opportunities for His Career That Led To His WWE Signing

A recent episode of the Cheap Heat with Peter Rosenberg podcast featured WWE talent Je’Von Evans as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Evans’ thoughts about his past experience working in AEW and teaming up with current WWE EVOLVE Men’s Champion Jackson Drake on AEW Dark.

“Yeah, we was a tag team. We a tag team. We had a little six-man… That was AEW Dark… Just basically something to showcase people that they’re looking at, you know, at the time.

Evans also gave his thoughts about how AEW giving him the opportunities for his wrestling career opened the door to him joining WWE.

“For sure, for sure. I know they wouldn’t let me do anything till I turned 18. My first goal was like, hey, WWE is probably not gonna pick me up because I’m so young so I just wanna get signed. As long as I can get signed to a company at 18 years old… So, AEW was those opportunities that I accepted to be like, let’s see. Let’s get my name out there so I can get signed… It went well. They didn’t pick me up but, opportunities that I took advantage of.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

Backstage Update on Tommaso Ciampa’s Signing with AEW

As noted before, Tommaso Ciampa’s contract with WWE expired earlier this week. Ciampa made his official surprise debut for AEW at this past Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite show in Cedar Park, Texas and signed an official contract with the company.

Fightful Select reported that their sources close to the situation stated that both Ciampa and AEW had agreed to a deal this past Monday.