After 26 years in the wrestling ring, WWE legend AJ Styles is feeling the effects of a career that has spanned over two decades. At 46, Styles is confronting the physical toll his profession has taken on his body, and he’s nearing the point where he’s ready to hang up his boots for good.
Styles, who first debuted in 1998, suffered another setback on SmackDown just minutes into his return from injury on Friday night, reigniting concerns about his future. Despite being a two-time WWE World Champion and holding countless titles worldwide, “The Phenomenal One” is now openly contemplating retirement.
Speaking exclusively to Metro.co.uk earlier this year during WrestleMania weekend, Styles made it clear that WWE will likely be his final stop in professional wrestling. When asked about a potential return to TNA Wrestling—where Styles made a name for himself—he quickly dismissed the idea, stating, “As much as I love the guys and girls that are there and respect TNA as much as I do, I think this is my last stop, in WWE.”
He continued to stress that even a “one-off” appearance at TNA is unlikely. “If there was something, it wouldn’t involve wrestling,” Styles said, emphasizing that his body is sending him signals: “My body, it’s like, ‘Please stop. Please stop.’”
Despite these challenges, Styles still understands the privilege of his position in WWE. “There’s times we don’t want to get up early… but the truth of the matter – we get to,” he explained. “We get up every day and go, ‘You know what? I’m gonna get this to do this, and it may be for the last time.’” He remains grateful for the opportunity to connect with fans and continue doing what he loves, even as the clock ticks on his legendary career.
Yet, Styles has been preparing himself for the inevitable. Reflecting on his time away from the ring following a broken ankle in December 2023, he admitted that stepping away when the time comes will be “easy.” Last summer, Styles told Metro.co.uk, “We bust our tail in this ring so that we can enjoy spending time that we have lost for so many years. That’s what retirement’s all about.”
For Styles, retirement represents a chance to catch up on the moments he’s missed during his grueling career, including birthdays and important milestones with his children. “No more missing birthdays, high school, elementary school stuff,” he said. “I’m gonna be there as a father to see that. I’ve missed enough.”
Although Styles’ time in the ring isn’t over just yet, the signs are pointing towards an imminent conclusion. With a career filled with jaw-dropping matches, memorable feuds, and countless championships, Styles has already cemented his legacy. When the day comes for him to finally call it quits, he’ll leave behind an unmatched body of work—and will do so without regret.
For now, though, fans can still look forward to more phenomenal performances, even as AJ Styles inches closer to the final chapter of his storied career.
