Former WWE Champion AJ Styles recently spoke about the special customized ring introduction he received from John Cena before their match at the WWE Crown Jewel Premium Live Event in Perth, Australia. He also explained the meaning behind the throwback ring gear he wore for their final encounter. Cena ultimately defeated Styles at the event.
Styles, who recently confirmed that 2026 will be his final year of in-ring competition, was surprised by Cena’s gesture. Cena’s introduction referred to Styles as “Ladies & Gentleman, the definition of Total Nonstop Action. The ace and undisputed boss of The Bullet Club, it’s our honor as fans and my honor as an opponent to see if he can beat up John Cena one final time. He is the face that runs the place, The Phenomenal, AJ Styles!”.
Speaking to Justin Barrasso of the Boston Herald, Styles admitted the special introduction immediately caught his attention. “It definitely caught me off guard. When I heard ‘The definition of Total Nonstop Action,’ I thought to myself, ‘Wait a minute,'” Styles confessed.
He believes Cena made the moment bigger than just himself. “He took this from just being about John to making it about John and AJ Styles. It’s something he didn’t have to do, but that’s John. That’s just who he is”. The match itself, which was the fifth and final encounter in their rivalry, saw both wrestlers pull out homage-filled moves from their past feuds. Styles also paid tribute to his early career by wearing throwback blue and white trunks, a look from his days as a top star in TNA.
Styles confirmed that the gear was a special tribute to a seminal moment in TNA history. “For those who remembered that magazine cover, this was for them”. He clarified that the actual original gear was not used, requiring his seamstress to recreate the iconic look. “That wasn’t the same gear I wore. I don’t even know where that gear is. I had to get a new set made. Fortunately, my gear-maker researched and made it exactly the way I wore it back in TNA”.
