WWE Superstar AJ Styles, 48, has announced that he intends to retire from professional wrestling in 2026. In an interview with the Japanese publication Tokyo Sports ahead of the upcoming WWE Super Show Japan, Styles also confirmed that his matches at the event on October 17th and 18th will be his final performances in Japan.
“I’m really excited. This will probably be my last match in Japan, so I’m very much looking forward to it,” Styles said. “I plan to retire soon, and I may not come back to Japan before I retire”.
The veteran performer provided a timeline for his departure, suggesting a final appearance could happen around WrestleMania in April 2026. He cited his physical condition as the primary reason for his decision. “I don’t want the fans to see a version of me that isn’t ‘AJ Styles.’ That’s the biggest reason. I decided to retire before my body can’t move anymore”.
Before becoming a top star in WWE, Styles established himself as one of the world’s premier wrestlers through his foundational work in TNA Wrestling and a dominant run in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. His decorated career has seen him capture major world championships in every promotion he has competed in.
For over a decade, Styles was known as “Mr. TNA,” serving as a cornerstone of the promotion from its inception in 2002. He was the inaugural TNA X Division Champion, defining the high-flying and athletic style of the division, and went on to become a multiple-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion, cementing his status as one of the top performers in North America.
In 2014, Styles reinvented himself in Japan, debuting for New Japan Pro-Wrestling as the new leader of the Bullet Club faction. He made an immediate impact, winning the prestigious IWGP Heavyweight Championship in his first singles match against Kazuchika Okada. Over the next two years, he would win the title a second time and produce classic matches against rivals like Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shinsuke Nakamura.
The announcement of his definitive retirement plans follows a period of on-screen hints. In June 2024, Styles delivered a speech in the ring where he appeared to announce his retirement, only to reveal it as a ploy before attacking then-WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. While that was part of a storyline, he has since posted images of an hourglass on social media, suggesting his time was truly running out.
Even as he plans his exit, Styles’ current schedule remains high-profile. He is scheduled for a major international match where he will face fellow veteran John Cena at the upcoming Crown Jewel event in Perth, Australia.
During the interview with Tokyo Sports, Styles also addressed his former NJPW rival, Hiroshi Tanahashi. “Tanahashi is a truly great wrestler, and I don’t think there are many who have contributed to the industry as much as he has. I was truly honored to have a match with him,” Styles said. “We are both on the path to retirement, but this is a truly happy thing. I think being able to have a retirement match is a very happy thing in itself”.
When asked about his post-retirement plans, Styles stated they were not finalized but that he would “probably work for WWE”. He elaborated on a potential future role helping to develop the next generation of talent. “It might be good to train young talent to become main roster-worthy wrestlers,” he said. “But I don’t know yet”.
Styles concluded with a heartfelt message to his Japanese fanbase, acknowledging the country’s impact on his career. “Japan is the place that made AJ Styles, and it’s also my favorite place in the world. I will give my all in the ring,” he promised. “If you can earn the respect of the Japanese fans, they will cheer you forever. That’s why I come to Japan every time”.
(Note: All quotes have were translated from the original Japanese article in Tokyo Sports.)
