AJ Styles Confirms WWE Retirement Plans

AJ Styles is preparing to walk away.

While John Cena’s impending retirement has been the talk of the wrestling town for several months, AJ Styles recently revealed that he’s planning to end his own career in 2026.

Speaking ahead of WWE’s upcoming shows in Japan, Styles said that it would represent his last chance to perform in the country. He went on to explain that, while unconfirmed, he wants to compete at WrestleMania 42 before hanging up his boots.

Styes is set to face Cena one more time at Crown Jewel on October 11 after both men appealed to Triple H for the match on social media.

AJ Styles Doubles Down On Retirement Promise

During WWE’s Crown Jewel Kick-Off event in Perth, Styles discussed his comments in an interview with Michael Cole. The veteran confirmed that he plans to hang up his boots in 2026, explaining that he’s worried about embarrassing himself in the ring as he gets older.

“I’m getting old folks. Listen if I could find the fountain of youth and take a couple of sips I’d wrestle for the rest of my life. But you know, I am getting older, the fear of embarrassing myself is getting closer.

And you know what? There comes a time In a man’s life when he has to take care of business but when business is done it’s time to take care of his family. I need to spend time with my family.

The whole idea with wrestling and having an amazing future in this business is to be able to retire one day and in 2026 I will retire.”

Away from Crown Jewel, it’s been reported that John Cena will return to the ring at Survivor Series before wrestling at the final time on Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13. Cena is also set to appear on the November 10 episode of Raw from the TD Garden in Boston, and the November 17 episode from Madison Square Garden.

H/t to Wrestle Talk