AJ Styles has been a staple in the pro wrestling biz for over 25 years. In his illustrious career, the Phenomenal One had numerous high-caliber opponents and Cody Rhodes could be the latest inductee on that list.
On the next edition of WWE SmackDown, AJ Styles will take on LA Knight in a WrestleMania 40 rematch to determine the number one contender for Cody Rhodes’ title and the match for the WWE Championship will take place at WWE Backlash in France.
For those wondering when AJ Styles faced the late legend, the answer is TNA. With its boom in the early 2000s as an alternative product to WWE, TNA quickly grabbed the imaginations of wrestling fans. During one of the shows in 2003, AJ Styles, the then-NWA World Heavyweight Champion, defended his title against the American Dream. After 15 minutes of seesaw battle, AJ came out victorious over a bloodied Dusty Rhodes.
If AJ Styles overcomes his bitter rival, LA Knight on Saturday, he will be one of those unique names in pro wrestling who have faced a pair of father and son in their career. Talking of his career, AJ Styles himself indicated about the future of it before WrestleMania 40.
AJ Styles opens up about his future
Among the many things AJ Styles discussed before the show of shows was his future inside the squared circle. Styles revealed where his career stands at this point while talking to Ringer and said, “I’m done. I’m going to retire. I’m getting to that point where I am worried about embarrassing myself. My brain says, ‘We can do this.’ My body is like, ‘You’re stupid. We cannot do this. We’re hurting every day when we roll out of bed.’ At some point, this has to come to an end.”
AJ Styles says his body hurts when he gets out of bed every morning and knows that retirement is near pic.twitter.com/v0qTRPQUkm
— WrestlingWorldCC (@WrestlingWCC) April 11, 2024
With his days numbered in the business, this could be his final opportunity to fulfil his pre-retirement goal, but to do so he needs to overcome the man they call “the megastar”, LA Knight.
