AJ Styles Reveals Original WWE Retirement Plans (WWE News)
WWE changed original grand retirement plans for one AJ Styles. Here's why.
WWE recently released a 22 minute long YouTube vlog honouring the career of AJ Styles. During it, AJ revealed that he initially planned to retire on the grand stage at WrestleMania last year, but then injuries happened and he started to think about how much the Royal Rumble PLE means to him personally. Suddenly, that became his full focus.
Styles debuted during the 2016 Rumble match a full decade ago, so it felt like he'd be coming full circle by calling time on that event in 2026. Of course, the history books will show that AJ lost his final match to Gunther over in Saudi Arabia, but some fans aren't satisfied and want to see more from the 'Phenomenal One'.
Sadly, injuries have also taken their toll on his body.
AJ pointed out during WWE's vlog that the injuries he's sustained would've retired most pro wrestlers by now. However, he desperately wanted to return and work at least one more match. Staying in character and honouring kayfabe just a little bit, Styles also stated that figured he might beat Gunther then march on "one more time".
Instead, he passed out in the Austrian's sleeper hold and received a standing ovation from the live crowd in Riyadh for an iconic run that stretches right back to 1998. AJ's life in wrestling has encapsulated WCW, WWF tryouts, TNA, New Japan and WWE success.
WWE Will Honour AJ On Monday's Raw
The company plans to honour Styles properly on Monday's episode of Raw in Atlanta, Georgia. Fittingly, AJ is billed from Gainesville, so this is something of a homecoming for him. There will be tears, and there will be some expecting WWE to say, 'Ha! Only kidding!' before launching into a 'Mania 42 program for the legend.
That isn't the plan at time of writing.
This is wrestling, so anything could happen, but it does look like AJ's body has told him it's high time he took a breather. He originally wanted to bow out at 'Mania 41, but the timing just didn't seem right. It remains to be seen whether or not he'll continue on as a TV character for WWE, or if he'll do some work elsewhere in TNA.
The AEW rumours persist, but those look increasingly far-fetched as the weeks roll on after his latest bout over in Saudi at the Rumble.