AJ Styles ‘Just Positive’ That He Wasn’t Originally Scheduled To Face John Cena During Cena’s Retirement Tour
John Cena and A.J. Styles clashed during Cena’s retirement tour.
As part of John Cena’s retirement tour, he shared the ring with A.J. Styles in a singles match at WWE Crown Jewel 2025.
Styles discussed that match while appearing on Insight with Chris Van Vliet. Styles stated that he believes he was not originally scheduled to face Cena.
“Well, it was the opportunity to throw back to every guy that we ever wrestled that meant a lot to us and that’s all it was. I mean, we didn’t have much of a story, so we had to tell one in the ring. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t supposed to wrestle him. I don’t care what anybody says. I don’t know who called it, but I know that I wasn’t in the picture. Something else needed to happen. I don’t know what that was, someone’s gonna have to tell that story because I don’t know. I’m just positive that I wasn’t the guy that was supposed to wrestle him.” Styles continued, “Nothing, never a talk of me having a match with John (Cena). Listen, I just assume I’m not that guy. I’m not that guy again. Sometimes I feel like even though I’ve been in WWE for 10 years, I’m not a WWE guy… That was just one of those times.”
Styles retired from in-ring competition one month after Cena retired. Both fell in defeat to GUNTHER in their final matches.
