AJ Styles rules out a farewell tour: "My body is already at its limit"

The retirement of AJ Styles in 2026 has been a confirmed fact for months, but those who were expecting a farewell tour in the style of John Cena can forget about it. The Phenomenal One will leave as he has lived his career: without frills, without unnecessary nostalgia, and without asking for permission. And it was Cena himself who revealed why Styles refuses a prolonged goodbye.

During his conversation with Chris Van Vliet, John Cena explained that he took advantage of his recent program with Styles to ask him privately if he would be willing to do something similar to his own final tour. The proposal was simple: one last ride, interactions with the audience, maybe even a schedule of special matches. But AJ's response was as direct as it was devastating.

“I'm already in my 40s... and my body can't handle a tour”

Cena recounted that, as Styles laced up his boots, he asked the question with all the affection in the world. Many fans have been asking for a farewell worthy of his legacy for years. However, AJ didn't need a complete sentence to make his position clear.

That was the sentence. Just that. But, according to Cena, it said it all. Styles feels he is already pushing his body to maintain the level demanded by his name. He believes that, although he can still perform, the effort behind the scenes is enormous, and artificially extending his career just to put on a tour doesn't fit him.

"You don't see what's behind it," Cena explained about AJ's reflection. “The preparation, the cooling down, the recovery... He's already at that edge where continuing for another year would mean compromising what AJ Styles is".

Cena added that AJ doesn't want to reach the point of lowering his standard, or allow the public to see a diminished version of him. He prefers to leave while he can still do things that truly represent the fighter he has been for over two decades.

“You understand it as soon as he says it,” Cena affirmed. “When he told me he had a clear date in mind, it became clear to me. He wants to leave while he can still give what AJ Styles is, not when they have to help him cross the finish line”.