WrestleMania 40 is in full swing, and fans and media have flocked to Philadelphia to see their favorite superstars. Among the flurry of press, AJ Styles talks retirement in an interview with The Ringer. All of this comes amongst him and his rival LA Knight going viral for a brawl at the press junket.
While a variety of WWE superstars made headlines talking about their road WrestleMania, Styles drew a lot of attention for how definitive it was. The 46-year-old veteran of the professional wrestling industry discussed his desire to retire at the top of his game and not leave the company in a diminished state.
“I’m getting close. I’m getting close to the end. I want to have that story and match to go with it before I leave the WWE. That’s what I’m looking forward to the most.
“I’m done. I’m going to retire. I’m getting to the point where I am worried about embarrassing myself. My brain says, ‘We can do this.’ My body says, ‘You’re stupid. We cannot do this. We’re hurting every day when we roll out of bed. At some point, this has to come to an end.”
The interview made it clear that it was not about leaving WWE; there is no Adam Copeland-like AEW run for Styles at this moment. AJ is looking to say goodbye to the industry after getting one last great program. At the same time, he can still perform at a main event level.
LA Knight and AJ Styles really got into it here at the WrestleMania press junket 😳 pic.twitter.com/nd6rsY2wXd
— The Ringer Wrestling Show (@ringerwrestling) April 5, 2024
AJ Styles is Still One of The Best Around
Styles is in, pun intended, and in phenomenal shape right now. That AJ Styles talks retirement to anyone at all is a bit surprising. He returned looking better than ever and has performed at a very high level, even without a lot of buildup for some of his more high-profile bouts. To the regular fan of Smackdown every Friday, AJ Styles looks exactly the same.
He has put on stellar matches against the Bloodline, Randy Orton, and Drew McIntyre. If he has lost a step, it is undoubtedly manifesting internally and not in his in-ring ability. However, each superstar deserves the retirement that they envision.
As fans, saying goodbye is never fun, but a happy and healthy career is always preferable. Luckily, though, Styles is thinking more long-term for now, perhaps because he still has unfinished business.
What Comes Next For AJ Styles
Although the retirement talk has caught people’s attention, that is not where AJ Styles is at mentally this weekend. First, he has a WrestleMania match with LA Knight. The two have built a fun, explosive rivalry on Smackdown since January’s Royal Rumble event.
Their feud has been personal and international, getting many fans especially excited for when they clash one-on-one. The matchup is a fantastic opportunity for a rising star in LA Knight to get a WrestleMania moment.
That his moment gets to be with one of the best as they contemplate hanging up his boots is icing on the cake. One thing is for sure: whatever Styles himself may be thinking, when the bell rings this weekend, he is a threat to steal the whole show.
