AJ Styles Reveals New Details On When He Plans To Retire

AJ Styles told Tokyo Sports that he is planning on retiring sometime in 2026, hoping to compete at WrestleMania next year.
WWE

AJ Styles started his professional wrestling career back in 1998 and is celebrating his 26th year as an in-ring performer. Fans and interviewers have asked him numerous times about retirement and when he believes it is going to happen, with some rough estimates at best.

Styles is still active today, recently being announced as an opponent on John Cena's retirement tour with a match between the two taking place at WWE Crown Jewel Perth on October 11th.

The topic of retirement would be brought up with Styles once again as he spoke with Tokyo Sports. And he would go on to give them a more definitive answer as he revealed he plans on retiring in 2026.

AJ Style
Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
"I will probably appear at WrestleMania, but it’s not confirmed yet. The details are still undecided, but I will definitely retire within the next year. I don’t want to show my fans a side of me that isn’t AJ Styles. That’s the main reason. I’ve decided to retire before my body can no longer move."
AJ Styles, Tokyo Sports

He also confirms that nothing is official yet, but post retirement he might continue working with WWE by helping to develop younger stars that could be future main roster wrestlers.

MORE: WWE Reportedly Lining Up Rising Star As Brock Lesnar's WrestleMania 42 Opponent

Styles, much like Finn Balor when talking with Tokyo Sports recently, confirmed he would love to share the ring with NJPW president Hiroshi Tanahashi one final time. Tanahashi will also be hanging up his boots in 2026 and wrestlers across the world are lining up for one last match against him.

The AJ Styles Retirement Tour

AJ Styles
AJ Styles | WWE

With at least around a year before for AJ Styles' planned retirement tour ends, there are plenty of competitors that Styles' could face before he wraps up his career and there are many on the active WWE roster who have a history with him.

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Ethan Schlabaugh
ETHAN SCHLABAUGH

Ethan Schlabaugh is a news writer for The Takedown on SI. His journalism experience has seen him cover professional wrestling for outlets such as TheSportster, The Takedown and more. He has been a lifelong fan of professional wrestling, dating back to his first experience with the WCW Nintendo 64 games, and that passion for the sport has remained many years later. He also writes feature articles for ResuraMag, where he focuses on mainstream Japanese promotions like Stardom and Marigold.