“The Phenomenal” AJ Styles has officially confirmed that his legendary in-ring career will be coming to an end in 2026. During the kickoff show for the WWE Crown Jewel premium live event, Styles doubled down on his recent cryptic social media posts and a previous interview, making it clear that he is ready to hang up his boots. He cited his age, his desire to spend more time with his family, and a fear of no longer being able to perform at the elite level he is known for as the primary reasons for his decision.
“I’m getting old, folks. Listen, if I could find the fountain of youth and take a couple of sips, I’d wrestle for the rest of my life. But you know, I am getting older, and the fear of embarrassing myself is getting closer,” Styles said. He also noted the importance of his family and the desire to enjoy the life he has built through his decades of dedication to the wrestling business.
“There comes a time in a man’s life when he has to take care of business, but when business is done, it’s time to take care of his family. I need to spend time with my family. The whole idea of wrestling and having an amazing future in this business is to be able to retire one day, and in 2026, I will retire.”
This confirmation follows a recent interview with Tokyo Sports, where Styles first revealed his retirement timeline, stating that his upcoming tour of Japan with WWE would likely be his last. Now, with his comments on the Crown Jewel kickoff show, he has made his intentions clear to a global audience. The 48-year-old has had one of the most decorated careers in modern wrestling history, holding world championships in every major promotion he has competed in, including WWE, TNA, and NJPW.
With his retirement now on the horizon, every match for “The Phenomenal One” takes on a new level of significance. At Crown Jewel, he is set to face his long-time rival, John Cena, in the final encounter between the two legends.
AJ Styles once again confirms that he will retire from WWE in 2026 because he doesn’t wanna embarrass himself and wants to spend more time with his family.
Well…🥲#WWECrownJewel
— EliteRockerz 𝕏 (@EliteClubS0B) October 10, 2025
