Finn Balor has opened up about the moment he learned AJ Styles’ retirement was coming sooner than he expected, revealing he was blindsided when Styles told him just two weeks before his final match that the Royal Rumble would likely be his last.
Speaking on Talk’n Shop Live, Balor described the conversation that took place after a Raw taping in Germany and how it caught him completely off guard despite having some prior knowledge that Styles was considering stepping away.
“AJ had told me he was thinking about retiring in 2026,” Balor said. “And in my brain, that was like, oh, okay, that’s Survivor Series. And then I think we’re walking out of a Raw taping in Germany two weeks before his actual retirement, and we’re walking out onto the bus. I said, you’re working Gunther soon? He goes, yes, think it might be the last one. I was like, for real? He goes, yeah. Whoa. Holy cow. I was blown away.”
Despite the shock, Balor made clear he is genuinely happy for his long-time friend and colleague being able to exit the business on his own terms and in good health.
“I must say I’m super happy for him to be able to step away with his general health,” Balor said. “No major injuries so to speak. I know he’s a little banged up, like we all are, but to step away on his terms and be with his family, that’s such a beautiful thing. I wish him the best, and I’m sure I’ll be seeing him pretty soon.”
Styles retired at the Royal Rumble in January after losing to Gunther and has since transitioned to a talent scout role with WWE, attending independent shows and scouting the next generation of performers. Balor is heading into WrestleMania 42 with a match against Dominik Mysterio, which takes place April 18 and 19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Talk’n Shop Live with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
