Wrestling retirements are en vogue these days, huh?
Nonetheless, I'm all for it. In the world of pro wrestling, where finality is fleeting, being able to watch some of your favorites have the ending they deserve is nice. It's well-deserved. And for fans, especially for the retiring wrestler, it gives closure.
My favorite wrestler of all time is Bret Hart. I unfortunately never got that closure. Sure, there was Wrestlemania 26, but it just wasn't the same. Bret's career was cut short. The story - his closure - was written for him. And for us fans.
Pro wrestling endings are typically cruel. Injury. Bad booking. Or sometimes, unfortunately, death. And yes, there is the wrestler who hangs on too long, ruining the essence of memories and the career built.
We just saw John Cena have his last run. An ending that will forever live with a meme, and a memory of him smiling within the grasp of Gunther's sleeper hold.
Enter the next announced retirement - AJ Styles.
AJ Styles, like Bret Hart, is in my Mount Rushmore of favorites, so yeah, basically my top four of all-time. I am a fan of TNA - still am - from the very inception of the company. I was a fan who needed an alternative in 2002 when pro wrestling felt stale.
AJ Styles was that dude. He was the guy who took things to another level for me. Like Bret Hart, he was always a good match, even when I had no understanding of what that even meant.
So, as AJ Styles also faded away from the grasp of Gunther's sleeper hold at the Royal Rumble, the speculation began when he didn't remove his gloves.
Is he done?
Then came the typical fantasy booking from pro wrestling fans.
Bro, can you imagine AJ Styles versus [enter wrestler name]!
As a very long-time fan of AJ Styles, if this was it, I am fully satisfied. At 48-years of age, and with multiple kids, as a dad myself, I want AJ Styles to go home. Go home, AJ. Trufthfully, there is nothing left to prove.
If there is room for one more run, I would love one last run in TNA. Nothing crazy, but a good, solid story leading to one match with Frankie Kazarian, his buddy, to close the chapter in TNA. It must make sense. And it's the only story or reason that would make sense to close AJ's career beyond the Royal Rumble.
For the AEW fans who already lined up bangers (after banger, after banger), should AJ end up there - that would be a turn I wouldn't expect. I'm just not sure what that would do for AJ Styles' legacy. And, for a guy who has admitted it's getting more difficult to gear up for matches, would he want a gauntlet of matches for the sake of a banger?
Whatever is to come, I'm grateful to have witnessed the career of AJ Styles. I can't believe he is nearing the end, which, as we always do with pro wrestlers, indicates the longevity of these stars running parallel to my own life, the memories they made along the way, and overall, just how old I am now.
Thank you, AJ Styles. Go home.