5 WWE Stars Who Can Pull AJ Styles Off

AJ Styles confirmed before WWE Crown Jewel: Perth that he would retire in 2026. It's unclear if he will do a year-round farewell tour like John Cena or if he will retire when his contract ends.

Styles hasn't decided what he'll do once he hangs up the phone, but it's likely that working behind the scenes for WWE if the opportunity presents itself. He will be 49 years old, so it would be interesting to see what the company has planned for him.

Let's look at five WWE stars who could be the best choices to face The Phenomenal One in his final match.

#1. Gunther

Gunther has already retired WWE legend Bill Goldberg this year, who wrestled his final match in July. The Ring General is also rumored to be the John Cena's last opponent during his retirement match on December 13 in Washington, D.C.

If Gunther retires Cena, it would be fitting for him to also be AJ Styles' final opponent. This could be a new gimmick for the former world heavyweight champion or at least part of his lore as The Ring General.

#2. Jacob Fatou

One of the most exciting stars in WWE today is Jacob Fatu. The Samoan Werewolf has all the tools to become one of the company's mainstays over the next decade. He was nearly unstoppable in his first year in WWE, even though he lost a little momentum mid-2025.

Still, Fatu retiring AJ Styles is something he could be proud to build on. For the next generation of stars to succeed, they need to add something to their characters so that fans take them more seriously.

#3. Austin's theory

Even though some fans think Austin Theory is no longer the prospect he once was, he is still only 28 years old. The theory hasn't even reached its peak, so it could still be reconstructed and become the main event that it should be.

The former United States Champion should be the perfect, brash character to take on AJ Styles in his final match. After everything that's happened to his booking over the past two years, they could be canceled if he retires a legend like Styles.

#4. Carmelo Hayes

If AJ Styles wants to retire with a breakout match, one opponent to consider is Carmelo Hayes. The former NXT Champion has been lost in the shuffle since being called up to the main roster, but WWE could start to build momentum by beating The Miz in their feud.

Let Hayes win matches before 2026 so he is seen as a credible final opponent for The Phenomenal One. Styles could put him aside by recognizing that Hayes is really HIM after losing his last match.

#5. Je'Von Evans vs. AJ Styles could be a banger

Before AJ Styles became a main eventer, he wrestled in the lower card of TNA. He was a high-flying maestro who captivated fans. The same can be said for Je'Von Evans, who is one of the most gifted athletic prospects in WWE today.

Evans already seemed ready for the main roster after putting on a great match against Sami Zayn a few weeks ago on SmackDown. Styles replacing Evans could also be seen as The Phenomenal One helping build the next generation from a former high-flyer to the current one.