AJ Styles Views WWE Retirement As A Celebration

AJ Styles has proved his worth in multiple wrestling promotions.

AJ Styles is a wrestling icon who has worked with promotions such as WCW, TNA, NJPW, and, of course, WWE, where he currently wrestles.

His athleticism is greatly lauded, and so is his character work. He showcased great cruiserweight ability in WCW, and after WCW folded, Styles joined TNA and was arguably the promotion’s biggest star, going on to hold the TNA World Championship five times. His time in New Japan Pro-Wrestling saw him as part of the infamous Bullet Club faction alongside WWE peer Finn Balor.

Styles eventually shot to international stardom with WWE, going on to become a two-time WWE Champion. He is also a Grand Slam Champion.

The Phenomenal One is currently 48 years old and is eyeing retirement in 2026.

AJ Styles Hopes Fans Will Celebrate His Retirement

Speaking to The Undertaker on his Six Feet Under podcast, Styles shared his views about retirement from wrestling, saying that it’s about deciding to quit as opposed to having to quit because of an injury.

Here’s the thing about retirement, right, it’s the opportunity to go out your way, not because of injury, but standing on your own two feet.

The goal of working is to retire, and to be able to do that, to me, is a celebration.

So, I hope that when it does happen, that you guys will celebrate with me that I achieved that goal.

In October 2025, Styles wrestled his final match in Japan as part of the WWE SuperShow tour of the country, and received an emotional sendoff from fans.

AJ Styles was also one-half of the WWE World Tag Team Champions with Dragon Lee in an odd yet exciting pairing. The duo lost the titles to the newly reunited tag team of Jey and Jimmy Uso on the December 29th episode of RAW.

Styles was last seen facing off with Gunther in the ring on the Netflix anniversary special of RAW. Gunther is the man who retired John Cena in December 2025, and could be looking at retiring The Phenomenal One as well.

Also read: The WWE Star That Saved AJ Styles From Trouble With Vince McMahon