AJ Styles to retire in-ring in 2026, final Japan shows in October.

AJ Styles, one of professional wrestling's most decorated performers, said this week that he plans to retire from in-ring competition in 2026, signaling an end to a career that has spanned more than two decades. The 48-year-old former world champion said he will step away before his body prevents him from performing at the level he expects of himself, and indicated that WWE's upcoming shows in Japan this October will likely be his last matches in that country.

Styles attributed the decision to a desire to preserve the quality of his performances. "I decided to retire before my body stops working," he said, adding that he does not want fans to see a version of himself that falls short of the standards he has set. He suggested the countdown to retirement has begun and said he may appear at WrestleMania next April, though that is not yet confirmed.

Before his retirement, Styles is scheduled to face John Cena at the WWE Crown Jewel premium live event in Perth on October 11, a matchup that revives one of the modern era's highest-profile rivalries. WWE is also holding live events in Tokyo on October 17 and 18 that Styles said are likely to be his final appearances in Japan, a market...