John Cena has provided his thoughts on what he believes will come next for AJ Styles following his recent retirement from in-ring competition. Cena and Styles are longtime rivals who both recently concluded their legendary careers as WWE superstars. Despite Styles’ official retirement at the hands of GUNTHER, fans have continued to speculate that the “Phenomenal One” may appear in another promotion down the line. For Cena, any future move for Styles is completely justified given his immense contributions to the professional wrestling industry.
While speaking to The Takedown on SI, Cena was asked what he feels Styles should do next, noting that the former champion has reached a level of respect where he no longer has anything left to prove. Cena highlighted the physical risks Styles took throughout a career that spanned the NWA, TNA, Japan, and eventually a historic run in the Stamford-based promotion.
“What do I think AJ Styles should do next? Gosh, he has earned the right to do whatever he damn well wants. He has spent so much of his life really risking his health for all of the fans of sports entertainment. He was NWA World Champion, he dominated over in Japan, he worked for TNA, he worked for WWE. He can do whatever he wants. He has earned that right,” Cena said.
Cena also reflected on the personal nature of their relationship, describing Styles as a “really good person” whose kindness almost made it difficult to build their initial rivalry. He recalled a session where they spent over two hours trying to find a narrative hook for their first program. Eventually, Styles admitted that his character might feel that he would have been the face of the company if it weren’t for Cena, a revelation that helped spark one of the most defining feuds of the modern era. “So I guess what AJ Styles means to me is that you can do it at a high level for a long time and be kind,” Cena added.
Tonight’s episode of WWE Raw from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, will feature an emotional tribute to the career of AJ Styles. The “Face that Runs the Place” is expected to address the WWE fans one final time in front of his home-state crowd.
While Styles has hinted at leaving the door open for a potential match alongside his son, he has recently been spotted at the WWE Performance Center, fueling rumors that he could transition into a coaching role similar to his friend Shawn Michaels.
