Major WWE superstar admits body is ‘begging him to retire’ in heartbreaking update-Alistair McGeorge-Entertainment – Metro

AJ Styles is really feeling the effects of 26 years in professional wrestling.

The 46-year-old WWE superstar – who suffered an injury on SmackDown just minutes into his return on Friday night – first stepped between the ropes in 1998, and he is ready to hang up his boots.

Asked whether he would like to return to a TNA Wrestling ring one more time given the renewed relationship between the two companies, he exclusively told Metro.co.uk earlier this year that it’s not on the cards.

Speaking to us over WrestleMania weekend, he explained: ‘As much as I love the guys and girls that are there and respect TNA as much as I do, I think this is my last stop, in WWE.

‘I don’t want to do it anymore. And it’s not because – of course I want to wrestle. But my body, it’s like, “Please stop. Please stop.” I think this would be a good place to end my career, in the WWE.’

He insisted that meant he wouldn’t even head back to TNA for a ‘one off’, adding: ‘If there was something, it wouldn’t involve wrestling.’

His match with Carmelo Hayes was halted on Friday night (Picture: WWE)

AJ Styles still looks to be at the top of his game (Picture: WWE)

The Phenomenal One, who is a two-time world champion in WWE alone with countless title reigns around the world, admitted there are days when the wear and tear of a wrestler’s schedule takes it toll but it’s important to keep perspective.

‘There’s times we don’t want to get up early, we don’t want to do this, and we don’t want to sign this. But the truth of the matter – we get to,’ he smiled.

‘So we get up every day and go, “You know what? I’m gonna get this to do this, and it may be for the last time.

‘I get to meet fans who actually want to know me because of what I’ve done in the ring. We can’t forget about what got us to the the game, right?’

Styles is nearing the end of his career (Picture: WWE)

Still, Styles has previously admitted he will find it ‘easy’ to retire when the moment comes, particularly after he got a taste of what his post-wrestling life will be like having spent months on the shelf following a broken ankle in December 2023.

Last summer, he told us: ‘I think that we bust our tail in this ring so that we can enjoy spending time that we have lost for so many years. That’s what retirement’s all about!

‘Once it’s over, I think it’s gonna be easy for me to go, “Okay! I did what I was supposed to do! I fought as hard as I could for as long as I could to the point where I hopefully didn’t embarrass myself”.

‘At the same time, the fruits of your labour are where you’re gonna enjoy that now, that’s what it’s all about. No more missing birthdays, high school, elementary school stuff. I’m gonna be there as a father to see that. I’ve missed enough.’

He wants to make the most of every moment like this (Picture: WWE)

That time hasn’t come just yet though – but when it does, Styles will have an incredible catalogue of incredible matches and moments to reflect on.

In Philly, we put him on the spot to choose his most embarrassment moment in the wrestling.

‘I had a WWE WrestleMania moment that was kind of embarrassing, when I hit my face, on the side of the entrance way,’ he smirked.

‘If you zoom in on that entrance, you’ll see how pissed I really was. I am bleeding, my hood off. It was like, my whole entrance was ruined. That was pretty embarrassing!’

A version of this article was originally published on April 12, 2024.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Entertainment – MetroRead More