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AJ Styles Explains Why Now Is the Right Time To Retire, How WrestleMania ‘Lost Its Luster’ for Him
Image Credit: WWE
Newly announced WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026 inductee, AJ Styles, joined Raw Recap this week to discuss his career, his retirement from wrestling, why he chose now to retire from wrestling, and more. Below are some highlights:
AJ Styles on Why Now Is The Right Time to Retire
“Why is now the right time to retire? Now is the right time to retire, so I don’t make a fool out of myself, so I don’t embarrass myself. I’m on the verge of doing just that. Now’s the time. It’s not easy, mind you, but it’s the time.”
On If He Thought of Retiring Anywhere Else Besides WWE
“Here’s the crazy thing. Had TNA offered me the deal that I had, I would’ve stayed there. So, there was that. I was proud of the fact that I helped make a company. I wanted to be there. But as things would have it, here I am at WWE, and I’m grateful for it.”
On What Told Him Royal Rumble Was the Best Place To End His Career
“It was coming back from an injury to WrestleMania to a match that didn’t have that much build, and WrestleMania, listen, I’m sorry to say, used to be the most prestigious PLE, or pay-per-view, whatever you want to call it. But to me, it’s kind of lost its luster a little bit. But the Royal Rumble, that’s special to me because that’s where I made my debut, so to be able to end where I start, it’s poetic.”
AJ Styles on How He Views His Own Retirement Tour
“I look at my own retirement tour as pretty good. Some quality matches is pretty good. The matches that me and Dragon Lee had with New Day, making those moments that we had in those tag matches, they were fun, they were entertaining, and then to go and have a singles run with a couple of guys in that same frame as John Cena, Shinsuke Nakamura, CM Punk, Gunther, those were some good matches. Those were some good matchups.”
On How He’d Be Nothing Without His Fans
“I’ve said this for two decades, and I mean it. AJ Styles would’ve been nothing without you, the fans.”
The Undertaker announced Styles as the latest Hall of Fame inductee on last night’s WWE Raw. Styles will be inducted into the Class of 2026 during WrestleMania Week in April.
If using any of the above quotes, please credit Raw Recap, with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.
