AJ Styles AEW retirement opponents have long been a topic of fascination for wrestling enthusiasts, as many have imagined how his legendary career might conclude in All Elite Wrestling. Although Styles, widely regarded as one of the sport’s most skilled competitors, has affirmed his intention to wrap up his in-ring journey with WWE in 2026, debates continue about the dream matches he could have contested in AEW before bidding farewell.
Fans Envision a Final AEW Chapter for AJ Styles
For over ten years, AJ Styles has carved out a remarkable legacy in WWE, enthralling fans across the globe with his signature high-flying, technical wrestling style. However, speculation about a possible transition to AEW for one last run resurfaced in recent months, especially after rumors emerged that WWE had begun planning for Styles’ retirement tour. Despite these hopes, Styles recently dismissed the suggestion that he might finish his career in AEW, making it clear that his allegiance remains with the ‘sports entertainment juggernaut’ where he became a multi-time world champion.
Nonetheless, the wrestling world still ponders the matches that never happened. If circumstances allowed AJ Styles to step into an AEW ring—perhaps in Jacksonville or at a marquee London event—three particular opponents stand out as perfect candidates for his farewell.
1. Will Ospreay: An Electrifying Clash of Pioneers
AJ Styles first rose to prominence as an innovative high-flyer, dazzling in promotions worldwide and consistently pushing the limits of in-ring athleticism. Over time, age and injuries have forced him to adapt, but his reputation as a world-class performer remains undisputed. Today, Will Ospreay stands as one of the few wrestlers whose dynamic style and technical prowess are often compared to Styles himself.
Ospreay has never shied away from expressing his admiration for AJ Styles, crediting him as a major inspiration and even playfully challenging him during a 2023 interview:
“And look, I’ve already done it before. But like I’m different now bruv, I’m so different. I’m a grown a** flipping man. I want AJ Styles, bruv. Quit your job, AJ!”
– Will Ospreay, Former AEW International Champion
Their most recent one-on-one encounter dates back more than a decade, making an AEW showdown between the two a highly anticipated spectacle had it ever materialized. Imagining a retirement bout at a signature AEW event, perhaps the main event at All In: London, it is easy to envision Ospreay as the ideal adversary to challenge Styles for one final, unforgettable match.
2. Kenny Omega: Old Grudges and Unfinished Rivalries
Kenny Omega’s storied career is inseparable from AJ Styles at several turns, most memorably during their days with NJPW’s Bullet Club. When Omega joined the group in 2014, he quickly captured titles and earned critical acclaim among Japanese wrestling fans. Their partnership culminated at NJPW New Year Dash 2016, where Omega and Styles teamed up for a tag team victory over Shinsuke Nakamura and Yoshi-Hashi.
Their alliance was short-lived: Omega shocked audiences by turning on Styles immediately after the match, delivering his signature One-Winged Angel and orchestrating a brutal attack along with The Young Bucks and The Good Brothers. This betrayal not only ended Styles’ NJPW tenure and his association with Bullet Club, but also facilitated Omega’s ascent as group leader.
Looking back, Kenny Omega has acknowledged in interviews that Styles’ forced exit from Bullet Club played a crucial role in the formation of The Elite—foundational figures in the eventual creation of AEW. Despite both being luminaries in their field, Styles and Omega have wrestled just one official singles bout, way back at PCW Back To School Bash 2006, a match won by Omega. From a storytelling perspective, this historical tension makes Omega a compelling choice for AJ Styles’ hypothetical AEW retirement opponent, offering a chance for Styles to seek retribution in a final, career-defining clash.
Envisioning this scenario, AEW President Tony Khan could have orchestrated a landmark retirement showdown, pitting Styles’ experience and ruthlessness against Omega’s enduring popularity and energy, adding a new chapter to one of pro wrestling’s most intriguing narratives.
3. Samoa Joe: A Rivalry Rekindled on the Biggest Stage
No discussion of AJ Styles’ greatest rivals is complete without mentioning Samoa Joe—a perennial foe whose legendary matches with Styles in TNA set new standards for modern wrestling. Alongside Christopher Daniels, their three-way battles are still celebrated by fans as some of the most dynamic contests in the company’s history. Over the years, Styles and Joe have faced each other across a variety of promotions, including ROH, IWA-Mid South, PWG, and even WWE.
Their most recent singles encounter occurred during a WWE house show in March 2019. Since then, their career paths have diverged: while Styles remained at WWE, Samoa Joe has found new momentum in AEW, where he currently holds the AEW World Trios Championship and completed two reigns as AEW World Champion. Known as The Samoan Submission Machine or The Samoan Submission Specialist, Joe has hinted at retirement himself, suggesting that both icons might finish their careers on a high note with a double retirement match.
If AJ Styles had ever opted to close out his career with a stint in AEW, facing Samoa Joe one last time would not only serve as a fitting tribute to their enduring rivalry but also provide a stage for both superstars—each with their own legions of fans—to say farewell in unforgettable fashion.
The Enduring Legacy of AJ Styles and the What-Ifs of Wrestling Retirement
While AJ Styles has made it clear that his final bell will likely toll inside a WWE ring, speculation about his AEW retirement opponents illustrates the ongoing fascination with wrestling’s biggest “what if” scenarios. Through fantasy matchups against Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, and Samoa Joe, fans reflect not only on the missed opportunities but also on Styles’ lasting influence as a competitor who inspired both his peers and fans throughout the world.
Each name—Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, and Samoa Joe—represents a unique chapter in AJ Styles’ storied career, and in a different timeline, any of them could have delivered the perfect send-off for one of wrestling’s true icons. With his retirement plans set, the debate underscores how the passion and anticipation of wrestling fandom never fade—even when the matches remain only in the realm of possibility.
