On the February 23, 2026, episode of WWE Raw on Netflix, The Undertaker made a surprise appearance to officially announce AJ Styles as the second inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026. The ceremony took place at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta during a career tribute that included TNA Wrestling stars Abyss and Frankie Kazarian, alongside Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. Styles will be inducted during WrestleMania 42 Week in Las Vegas, NV.
A Phenomenal Reveal: The Undertaker Immortalizes AJ Styles on Raw
In my 20 years covering the squared circle, I’ve seen countless “passing of the torch” moments, but rarely do they carry the weight of what we witnessed Monday night in Atlanta. When The Undertaker’s bell tolled, it wasn’t for a match—it was to grant the ultimate honor to his final WrestleMania opponent. “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles is officially headed to the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026, and he’s doing it with the endorsement of “The Phenom” himself.
The “Forbidden Door” Swings Wide in Atlanta
Before the Deadman arrived, WWE treated fans to a tribute that felt like a celebration of the entire industry, not just one company. For the first time in history, the “house that AJ Styles built” (TNA/Impact) was fully acknowledged on a flagship WWE program:
- TNA Legends Return: In a stunning visual, Frankie Kazarian and the “Monster” Abyss stood center-ring in a WWE arena. This wasn’t just a cameo; it was a validation of Styles’ status as an industry-wide icon.
- The Club Reunited: Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson represented AJ’s global dominance, reminding the world that Styles has been at the top of the food chain from Orlando to Tokyo to Stamford.
The Deadman’s Endorsement
The climax of the night saw The Undertaker glide to the ring, echoing his surprise reveal for Stephanie McMahon earlier this year. The silence in the State Farm Arena was deafening as he stared down Styles.
Taker didn’t waste words. He spoke about their “Boneyard Match” at WrestleMania 36 and the respect AJ earned that night. He then dropped the bombshell: AJ Styles is the second official inductee into the 2026 Hall of Fame. Seeing the usually stoic Styles break into tears while being embraced by The Undertaker is an image that will define the road to WrestleMania 42.
WWE Hall of Fame 2026: Official Class Tracker
| Inductee | Announced By | Historical Significance |
| TBA | — | Opening Inductee (To be revealed) |
| AJ Styles | The Undertaker | First-ever TNA/WWE hybrid megastar to be inducted while still active in memory. |
Conclusion: Las Vegas Awaits
The ceremony will take place this April in Las Vegas as part of the massive WrestleMania 42 festivities. With the “Forbidden Door” now seemingly propped open for Styles’ induction, the speculation now turns to who will actually give the induction speech. Will we see another TNA face, or perhaps a legendary rival like John Cena?
However, looking at the “Road to WrestleMania 42” and the current landscape of WWE on Netflix, five names stand out as the frontrunners to give the speech of a lifetime in Las Vegas.
The Top 5 Candidates
| Candidate | Connection | Why It Makes Sense |
| John Cena | The Greatest WWE Rival | “The Face That Runs the Place” vs. “The Face That Runs the Place” defined 2016-2017. Cena has often called AJ the best he’s ever worked with. |
| Christopher Daniels & Samoa Joe | The “TNA Trinity” | If WWE truly wants to honor AJ’s roots, these are the two. They revolutionized the X-Division together and are AJ’s closest friends outside the WWE bubble. |
| Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson | The O.C. / The Brotherhood | They have been AJ’s “enforcers” and best friends across multiple continents. Their speech would likely be the most emotional—and the funniest. |
| Kurt Angle | Legendary Peer | Angle and Styles had what many consider the greatest matches in TNA history. Angle is already a Hall of Famer and carries the prestige the ceremony requires. |
| Abyss (Chris Park) | The Monster & Producer | Abyss appeared in AJ’s tribute on Raw this week. As a long-time TNA rival and current WWE producer, he represents the professional bond AJ shares with the “backstage” of the industry. |
The “Guru’s” Prediction: The Triple Threat or The Franchise?
If you’re asking me for my “inside track” pick, I’m looking at two paths:
- The “WWE Pillar” Path: John Cena is the safest and most prestigious bet. Having the 16-time World Champion induct AJ Styles cements AJ as a WWE icon of the highest order. It tells the casual fans that AJ is on the same level as the Mount Rushmore of wrestling.
- The “Forbidden Door” Path: Given the presence of Frankie Kazarian and Abyss on Raw, the door is wider than ever. Imagine the roof of the MGM Grand in Vegas blowing off if Christopher Daniels walks out to induct his best friend. In 2026, the “forbidden door” isn’t just open—it’s been taken off the hinges.
Why the Undertaker Is the Wild Card
While the Undertaker made the announcement, he rarely gives induction speeches. However, because he was AJ’s final opponent in the Boneyard Match, there is a poetic “full circle” argument for the Deadman to be the one to officially put the ring on AJ’s finger.
WrestleMania 42 Week in Las Vegas is already shaping up to be the biggest in history. With the Hall of Fame ceremony traditionally taking place on the Friday before the big show, we won’t have to wait long to find out who gets the call.
