AJ Styles Dealing With Physical Pain Played Major Role In WWE Retirement
The physical toll of the wrestling business likely played a role in AJ Styles’ retirement from WWE.
AJ Styles competed in his last WWE pro wrestling match at the Royal Rumble on January 31st when he lost to Gunther. Per the agreed-upon stipulation to the match, Gunther only agreed to have the match if Styles put his career on the line. Styles did, and Gunther made him pass out to the Sleeper hold.
On the February 23rd edition of WWE Monday Night Raw in Atlanta, AJ Styles was close to Gainesville home as he was celebrated for being an incredible pro wrestler for the past 25 years. Styles left his gloves in the ring, thanked his wife and four kids (three boys and a girl), and was joined by many of his close friends in the pro wrestling business.
Former WWE superstar Karl Anderson is one of AJ’s best friends in pro wrestling and was at Raw in Atlanta. When Anderson spoke to Busted Open Radio about AJ’s retirement, Anderson talked about the physical pain that Styles is in at the age of 48.
“When I looked at him in his eyes after Raw and said I didn’t know if he was going to retire or not, he told me, ‘Dude, I’m too beat up. My neck hurts. My back hurts. And I truly want to help train the next generation.’ And it was like, man, he truly means it.
I know he’s going to be able to walk away with his health. He’s hurt and beat up like we all are, but the fact that he can still walk, still be a dad, and still move around — I think he’s happy he’s able to get out while he can, on his own terms.” (H/T Ringsidenews)
AJ Styles Is Going To WrestleMania For WWE Hall Of Fame
There was a surprise during the AJ Styles tribute on Raw. The surprise came when The Undertaker came out to pay tribute and to inform Styles that he would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year during WrestleMania weekend in Las Vegas.
Speaking on a new Vlog on WWE’s YouTube channel, Styles reacted to the tribute and the Hall of Fame announcement that he clearly didn’t know about.
“I guess we’re going to WrestleMania, at least to the Hall of Fame, so I’m very excited, very… I don’t know, I really can’t think of the words to express how I feel.
Gratitude’s a big one, thankful, blessed, I’m just glad (his family) they were here to see it too, you know? What a place, being told you’re going into the Hall of Fame in the city that you live in.
It was gonna be a great night, and you got married. It’s awesome.”
Following his WWE retirement, it has also been reported that Styles signed a new deal with WWE recently that will keep him in that behind-the-scenes role with the company.