After the Survivor Series 2017 pay-per-view event, a number of rumors surrounding the WWE Universe have surfaced. One of these speculations include the supposed plan of superstar AJ Styles to retire from professional wrestling by the age of 42.
In a recent interview with 97.9 The Box in Houston ahead of Survivor Series, Styles disclosed his plans for the near future. "Work hard now, you enjoy it later," the 40-year-old superstar said, "In a couple of years, I'll be able to catch every football game, every baseball game, every basketball game, cheer leading, gymnastics, whatever they're in." With Styles' contract with the WWE running out in 2019, there might be some validity to this rumor.
If the speculations hold true, Styles could have a big retirement match set up for WrestleMania 36. However, his contract expires by the Royal Rumble 2019 pay-per-view event, so a short contract extension is expected for him to be able to participate in the Show of Shows. By the end of his contract in 2019, Styles will have been in the professional wrestling business for 22 years at the age of 42. Styles signed a three-year contract with the WWE in January 2016.
Aside from his discussion about his plans for the future with the Box in Houston, Styles also disclosed his idea to retire by the age of 42 before he signed with the WWE in 2016 in an interview with Dave Meltzer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Meltzer also noted that Styles is making a lot of money at the moment and that the lure of wrestling for several more years is pretty great.
With many wrestling fans dismayed by the possibility of Styles retiring soon, UPROXX proposes that Styles work a schedule in which he only appears on WWE live events once or twice a month similar to what Shawn Michaels did when he returned to the company from 2002 to 2010. Michaels only appeared mostly on Monday Night Raw and pay-per-view events, and retired at the age of 45.
