KEY POINTS

  • AJ Styles joined WWE in 2016
  • He recently featured at the Elimination Chamber
  • Styles could face Edge at WrestleMania 38

AJ Styles has reportedly signed a new multi-year deal with the WWE Company.

The two-time WWE Champion, Styles, was recently a part of the Elimination Chamber match at the namesake event, where he failed to win the title after being pinned by the eventual winner Brock Lesnar.

The fight also involved Seth Rollins, Riddle, Austin Theory and the defending champion Bobby Lashley.

After a few years of budget cuts, the WWE Company seems to have begun to invest money in established stars. Earlier this year, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn were offered long-term deals before the duo would have become free agents in the market. The WWE Company is appearing to do the same with Styles.

The multi-year deal of Styles is worth "well over $3 million a year". What makes it more attractive is the fact that the contract includes some financial accommodation for bus travel to make him more comfortable and to help maintain his health while on the road, according to Fight Select.

The new deal has made 'The Phenomenal' one of the highest-paid wrestlers of WWE’s active roster, according to Bleeding Cool.

AJ Styles
WWE's world champion AJ Styles and SmackDown women's champion Carmella speak at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia, June 24, 2018. Robert Prezioso/Getty Images

After a successful career in Ring of Honor, TNA and New Japan, Styles joined the WWE Company in 2016. When he signed an extension in 2019, he said it would be his last. However, that didn’t turn out to be true. Moreover, it is understood that the company was aware that Styles would have “plenty of suitors” if he became a free agent and didn’t want to risk it.

But one must remember that the WWE contracts are not like the typical sports contracts as the company can release a star at any given time. Also, the company is obligated to cover the 90-day no-compete period. The WWE Company has released many superstars in the past two years, who were left with significant time remaining on their respective existing deals.

Even though Styles’ immediate plans are unclear, there have been rumors of him facing off against Edge at WrestleMania 38. The ‘Show of the Shows’ is going to be a two-day affair and is scheduled to take place on April 2 and 3 at AT & T Stadium, Texas.

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