Finn Balor Thought AJ Styles Would Retire Later In 2026, ‘He Never Slowed Down’

AJ Styles and Finn Balor will be forever connected as Styles became the leader of the Bullet Club in NJPW after Balor left for WWE.

Though the two had limited interactions in their WWE careers, Balor was present for AJ’s decade-long run with the company and his retirement ceremony earlier this year.

Speaking on Talk N Shop, Balor looked back on AJ’s run.

“I feel like AJ was this ever-present benchmark of what it was to be great. He never slowed down. He never looked out of shape or winded, even the longer he got into his career. His last matches, you’d think you’d see cracks in the paint, but there was none. AJ told me he was thinking about reining in 2026, and in my brain, I was like, ‘That’s Survivor Series.’ I think we were walking out of a Raw taping in Germany, two weeks before his actual retirement, we’re walking onto the bus and I go, ‘You’re working Gunther soon?’ ‘Yeah, I think this might be the lost one.’ I was like, ‘For real?’ ‘Yeah.’ ‘Whoa. Holy cow.’ I was blown away. I’m super happy for him, to be able to step away with his general health. No major injuries, so to speak. He’s a little banged up, like we all are, but to step away on his terms and be with his family is a beautiful thing. I wish him the best,” said Balor.

Styles lost to Gunther in his retirement match.

Balor is set to take on Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania 42.

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