After months of rumors, AJ Styles confirmed ahead of WWE Crown Jewel that he will indeed retire from professional wrestling in 2026. At the event in Australia, "The Phenomenal One" will check one big final match off the pre-retirement bucket list when he faces company icon John Cena . But more matches need to happen before he walks away from the industry for next year.
With that in mind, let's look at five matches we need to see Styles in before he hangs up his boots once and for all in 2026.
Credit: WWE
CM Punk and AJ Styles are two of the greatest performers of their generation, but they haven't faced off in a couple of decades. They are very different people than they were in 2004, so a final showdown is a dream match for many fans. It would be a crime if we didn't get an epic showdown between Punk and Styles in the next few months.
Credit: WWE
Brock Lesnar and Styles faced off in a huge champion vs. champion match at Survivor Series 2017. Little did fans know they would not see these freak athletes battle ever again. Both are one-of-one specimens that are nearing the end of their legendary careers. Styles needs some big wins on his way out of the industry. Getting a revenge victory of "The Beast" would be a fun part of his final send-off.
Credit: WWE
With WWE and TNA having a working relationship, many fans want to see the greatest star in TNA Wrestling history have one more match in the company. No, not an appearance at a major event like he did at Slammiversary in July. We need one more meaningful match for the TNA title to deliver a nostalgia moment and help elevate a current talent on the way out.
Credit: WWE
In ways, Fraxiom member Nathan Frazer feels like a new-age version of AJ Styles. He is an absurdly gifted athlete with a ton of upside and potential. A match between the two would be a fun clash of generations and could be an opportunity for Styles to pass the torch to the next-gen high-flying freak athlete in the company.
Credit: WWE
Penta also has a lengthy history in TNA and won the company's top championship during his run there. The talented high flyers are now under the WWE umbrella, and facing off one last time in a high-profile matchup is something many fans would love to see. Plus, it would be an opportunity to help further elevate the Mexican star in a matchup with a legend of the industry.
Credit: WWE
AJ Styles and Roman Reigns have faced off in the past when the "OTC" was a very different man. It was a rivalry that helped to elevate the one-time member of the Shield when he was on his own as a singles wrestler. Styles deserves some big matchups on his way out of the business. Reigns is, arguably, the biggest name in the industry, so one final match against him would be a great addition to Styles' retirement tour in 2026.
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