8 New Directions For WWE After Crown Jewel 2025

It's official, folks. AJ Styles confirmed during the Crown Jewel Kickoff show on Friday that he’ll be retiring from the ring in 2026. Everyone knows he’s not a WWE original by any means, but his run in the company has been tremendous and he definitely deserves a big send off. There was a reason why the company embraced AJ so readily after his memorable 2016 Royal Rumble debut.

Kinda wacky that next year's event will mark 10 years since he marched out to greet Roman Reigns, eh? Time flies when you're phenomenal, it seems. Ideally, AJ's retirement tour (if he's going to get a tour at all it's unlikely to last as long as Cena's) should include some TNA goodness too. That's where Styles made a real name for himself, after all. 

He was 2-2 with John heading into Saturday's match, according to WWE's graphics. That's obviously now 3-2 in Cena's favour, and it felt oddly fitting that JC finished AJ with a Tombstone Piledriver; The Undertaker was one of Styles' best rivals, and AJ worked 'Taker's final bout back at WrestleMania 36. Go watch the 'Boneyard' bruiser if you haven't seen it since 2020. There's a lot of lore there as well.

So, it depends how far WWE are willing to go with this, but seeing AJ Styles work some TNA bouts and then close out on a major WWE PLE sounds like the way to go with his retirement. He's worked countless amazing matches and given fans so many unreal moments.

"Get ready to fly" a few more journeys. Man, seeing all your favourites hang it up is a mortality check and a half!