2. He Is 38 - Almost 39
The only real chance AJ Styles has of being a main event player is if the majority of WWE fans click with his character and he is at the top of the card before next year's WrestleMania. That won't happen. If Styles was more of a bruiser-type wrestler rather than a fast-paced, high-risk highlight then being 38 might not be so much of a factor. Sorry to smash the dreams of Styles marks, but the man is getting old; more importantly, he's aging physically. Having dealt with hip and back issues since 2010 and more recently a back injury
highlighted in this lovely little promotional video for DDP Yoga, Styles is only going to deal with more and more issues as time goes on. That's not to say the guy is going to spend more time on the sidelines than your run-of-the-mill water boy, but he's going to get hurt. Though Styles is used to working a hefty schedule, acclimatising to the improved overall quality of WWE performers - oh be quiet, Braun Strowman doesn't count - while working through the dates is going to require Styles to up his physical conditioning. More physical work means more stress on the ol' hips and back means a higher probability of sitting at home collecting a pay cheque.