World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk recently shared his thoughts on AJ Styles potentially retiring following the match on last night’s WWE Raw. AJ Styles is set to compete against Gunther in what could be a career-defining bout at this Saturday’s WWE Royal Rumble, a match that might also mark his retirement.
Last night’s Raw match, which appeared to be Styles’ final appearance on the show, saw him face CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship. However, the contest ended without a winner due to interference from Finn Balor. In a video posted by WWE after Raw, Punk expressed disbelief over the possibility of AJ retiring, stating he “can’t imagine” Saturday being the end for The Phenomenal One.
Punk said:
“I don’t want to believe this is AJ’s last match on Raw. It’s strange — he calls this his last, and yet it’s almost February. This isn’t supposed to be the end for The Phenomenal One. I’ve been in the ring with Gunther and, without ego, I can say I beat him, but I didn’t exactly feel like a winner—I felt like I survived. I don’t know if AJ can do this, but the stakes are incredibly high. I don’t want to think about it or accept it. After seeing John Cena retire recently, it’s hard to imagine losing both him and AJ Styles within just a couple of months.”
Following the show, Punk and AJ Styles shared a meaningful moment, highlighting the gravity of this potential career milestone.
Fan Take: This news is significant for WWE fans because AJ Styles has been a cornerstone of the sport for years, and his retirement would mark the end of an era. It also raises the stakes for the Royal Rumble, making the upcoming match against Gunther not just a competition for a title, but potentially a farewell to one of wrestling’s all-time greats.
