Reports have circulated over the last week of AJ Styles’ potential exit from WWE, with Fightful Select revealing that Styles’ contract extension is due to expire in February 2026, completing a whole ten years as part of the WWE roster. Styles sparked talk of a potential retirement with a social media post showcasing his logo steadily running down in an hourglass, hinting that his time may well be up sooner rather than later. However, there is still plenty of gas left in the tank, and we want to see Styles’ final few years in wrestling succeed. To do this, he must leave WWE… and head to AEW.
WWE Has Booked AJ Styles Poorly For Years
- AJ Styles went from a top star to an underused name.
- He hasn’t felt like a main event star for years.
- He has been mistreated and misused despite being a legend.
AJ Styles’ first few years in WWE were great, with multiple world title reigns, show-stealing matches, and more. However, ever since 2021, things have gone downhill with WWE focusing on other names and leaving Styles to wander around the midcard. Under Triple H, it has been clear from day one that Styles wasn’t in his plans to feature strongly in the new regime and era. Styles has limped along with some minor feuds against The Judgment Day, been used to put over world champions in the odd title challenge here and there, and lost, lost, and lost again. That’s pretty much all he’s had to show for the last several years outside of a fun feud with LA Knight ahead of WrestleMania 40.
For someone who was once considered the best wrestler in the world and has carved out a legendary career, AJ Styles has not been booked like a legend or former world champion, he’s simply just been booked as another guy on the roster. This was the initial worry when he first arrived in WWE, though he exceeded all expectations by feuding with and beating top stars, winning several world titles in the process, and headlining PPVs. However, the last few years have seen those worries finally surface, and Styles no longer feels like a star. To save the final years of his career, a change is sorely needed.
AJ Styles Should Go To AEW
- AJ Styles became a star outside of WWE.
- Styles has close ties with members of the AEW roster.
- He can have several dream matches in AEW.
AJ Styles is nearing 50 years of age, but he can still work to a decent level, and he’d be a big name for the AEW roster to have. It could be argued that AEW’s recent spree of signing wrestlers who are younger and not ex-WWE names should continue, but an exception should be made for AJ Styles. He is someone who likely would’ve joined AEW had it started a few years earlier due to the fact that he made his name outside of WWE, much like names such as Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada, and has close ties to several of those on the roster. As much as his WWE run has had highs, AEW has always felt like more of a natural home for someone of Styles’ ilk.
Styles has maxed out interesting feuds in current day WWE, especially under his recent booking, but there are a wide range of salivating matchups for him in AEW. For instance, AJ Styles taking on the likes of Will Ospreay, Swerve Strickland, Kazuchika Okada, Adam Page, Kenny Omega, rekindling things with Jon Moxley, Konosuke Takeshita, and so many more would be more than a satisfying final run for his iconic professional wrestling career. Styles has never needed WWE to be a massive success, and that is still true today.
AEW Will Properly Use AJ Styles’ Final Years
- AEW has handled more experienced names, such as Sting and Christian Cage, well.
- AJ Styles will quickly become a favorite in AEW.
- He is better off retiring in AEW than WWE.
AEW is on form in 2025 and there are few who will have much of an issue with how they have been booked, especially when it comes to the more experienced names. Adam Copeland has done everything he’s wanted to do — taking on some newer stars and rekindling his partnership with Christian Cage. Cage himself has been arguably his best self in AEW and put forth some of his best work both in the ring and as a character. Dustin Rhodes has finally been treated with a lot of respect, being handed title reigns and wins. After a disappointing WWE chapter, Sting was treated like a larger than life legend with one of the most perfect retirements in wrestling. And finally, although Chris Jericho’s run went south, he was one of AEW’s most featured names from day one.
AEW can be trusted to handle the final years of a legend’s career, and AJ Styles is no different. Whether it be one year, two years, or a few more, AEW can give AJ Styles a perfect farewell in which he feels like a big star, has some big dream matches, and has some control over how he goes out.
