A recent report has emerged that sheds light on the original plans WWE had for a decorated star before discarding them completely after suffering an injury. According to rumors, the promotion had planned a 'farewell' to AJ Styles before it was injured in October 2024 during a fight with Carmelo Hayes on SmackDown.
The aforementioned fight against Hayes was the first of Styles on television in more than two months. However, by bad luck, The Phenomenal One could not finish the fight after injuring his ankle. Then he was absent from WWE for a few more weeks before finally returning at the Royal Rumble of 2025.
There have been tons of speculations about what the company has prepared for AJ Styles as Wrestlemania 41 is approaching. Recent reports have suggested that Styles could face Finn Balor in 'Mania, with whom he has an outstanding story.
Speaking in Wrestling Observer RadioDave Meltzer said WWE was planning a farewell to Styles before his unfortunate injury in October. He added that the promotion is not following that idea now and is going in a different direction.
“The original idea for AJ before it was injured was that I was going to make a kind of farewell, and with a farewell it is a bit difficult to be heel for your farewell. But this time they have not driven the farewell, you know, as they did the last time, this time they have not really promoted it.”
Freddie Prinze Jr. wants a farewell tour for AJ Styles in WWE
A couple of weeks ago in his podcast Wrestling with Freddiethe former WWE star said she would like to see AJ Styles embark on a farewell tour, similar to the one John Cena is currently doing. Freddie Prinze Jr. also added that the current contract of The Phenomenal One with the company is probably its last fighting contract.
“I remember well because it was when (the house that Aj Styles built was something), which was on SmackDown, and had great fighting for the championship with those boys,” said Freddie Prinze Jr. “I think you may give him something like (the story of John Cena's farewell tour) because I think this is his last, probably his last contract.”
In addition to a rumored fight with Finn Balor, WWE has also sown the seeds so that AJ Styles challenges Bron Breakker for the intercontinental championship on the biggest stage of all this year.
