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During his latest appearance on Insights with Chris Van Vliet wrestling podcast, AJ Styles, the two-time WWE champion, confirmed his plan to retire from in-ring action before the age of 50, promising the host to live up to his word. Known as “The Phenomenal”, AJ Styles is due to turn 48 years old on June 2 this year, and with that, there is a high likelihood of him stepping away from being an in-ring performer in the year 2027.
Notably, after a difficult 2024, which saw him suffer two different injuries, taking months off of his career, AJ Styles made his triumphant return at the WWE Royal Rumble PLE last month at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. While AJ Styles wasn’t able to win the match due to “The Maverick” Logan Paul eliminating him, he is set to call out the YouTuber-turned-wrestler on the next week’s episode of Monday Night Raw.
Before that, in an exclusive interview with Chris Van Vliet, when the host asked him about his retirement plan, AJ Styles gave a detailed explanation about his thought process on the matter before revealing the big information. He said, “I've thought about it a lot, much more than I should have. I should have known what I was doing by now. But it's so hard because you enjoy it so much and I enjoy being around my friends. Don't get me wrong, I love being at home, but the opportunity to see them and see them doing well, seeing them smile, and seeing them grow.”
AJ Styles shares his intention to wrestle CM Punk before their in-ring retirements
After hailing the likes of Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, and Cody Rhodes for taking the WWE to greater heights over the past few years, AJ Styles was asked about whether he wants to wrestle into his 50s, to which he responded, “No. I don’t”. When Chris Van Vliet pressed him about wrestling on his 50th birthday, to which AJ Styles categorically said, “No”, making the host question him about whether a couple of years are left in him, and then, he answered, “That's correct. I keep saying that. I've said this and said this, but I will not wrestle at 50, I promise you that”.
During the same interview, AJ Styles also shared his intention to wrestle CM Punk before both of them retire as in-ring performers in pro-wrestling.
