AJ Styles recently concluded his legendary in-ring career following a grueling feud with Gunther, culminating in a high-stakes match at the Royal Rumble. The Phenomenal One put his career on the line in a rematch against The Ring General, ultimately falling short and hanging up his boots. However, the path to his retirement was originally supposed to look very different.
In the newly released “AJ Styles’ farewell tour: WWE Vlog,” the 49-year-old wrestling icon opened up about his initial plans to end his career on the grandest stage of them all. “You know, everybody wants to retire at WrestleMania, right? It’s the biggest show of the year that we do. And I was going to do exactly that,” Styles revealed. The plan seemed fitting for a superstar of his caliber, but circumstances forced a change of heart.
Styles explained that returning from a severe injury altered his perspective. The injury, which he noted “retires most” people, required significant rehabilitation. Once he finally felt comfortable performing at the level expected of “AJ Styles,” the timeline didn’t align with his vision. “It just didn’t feel right to come back for two months just to retire. That didn’t seem right,” he explained. Instead, he opted to conclude his career at the Royal Rumble, noting the poetic justice of retiring at the same premium live event where he made his shocking WWE debut a decade earlier.
While fans may have missed out on a WrestleMania send-off, the emotionally charged vlog provides a candid look at the thought process behind his final days as an active competitor.
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