During an appearance on the WWE SummerSlam Kickoff Show on Friday, AJ Styles commented on his future, stating that this year’s event may be his final time competing at SummerSlam. He is scheduled to compete for the Intercontinental Championship against “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio on Night 2 of the event.
“This May Be My Last SummerSlam”
When asked about the importance of his upcoming match in the context of his long career, Styles gave a direct response. “If I’m being honest with you guys, this may be my last SummerSlam,” he stated. “So I plan on tearing the house down one last time at SummerSlam for you guys.”
Career Context
Styles, who is 48 years old, has previously made public comments about his intention to retire from in-ring competition before the age of 50. A July 4 report from Fightful Select indicated that Styles had signed a one-year contract extension with WWE, a deal which would conclude in 2026. His in-ring schedule has also been affected by injuries, including a Lisfranc injury in late 2024.
Chasing the Intercontinental Title
The Intercontinental Championship is one of the few titles in WWE that Styles has not held during his career. His match against Dominik Mysterio at SummerSlam will be for that championship, a point that was brought up during the Kickoff Show interview.
A Special Relationship with SummerSlam
Styles also referenced the significance of the event to his WWE career, specifically mentioning his 2016 match against John Cena. “The match with John Cena set the tone for AJ Styles career in the WWE,” he said. “So SummerSlam is very special to me.”
AJ Styles is scheduled to challenge “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio for the WWE Intercontinental Championship on Night 2 of SummerSlam. The two-night event streams live this Saturday and Sunday, exclusively on Peacock in the United States and on the WWE Network everywhere else.
