AJ Styles shared an emotional update on his wrestling career just before the live WWE SmackDown broadcast from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois. This AJ Styles wrestling career update comes amid his ongoing feud with Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio on WWE RAW, where Styles recently challenged Mysterio for the title but was thwarted by El Grande Americano’s interference.
Styles posted an intriguing image on Instagram depicting his logo inside an hourglass, seemingly hinting that his in-ring career might be nearing its end. The cryptic message has sparked speculation among fans about what the future holds for the veteran performer.
Intercontinental Title Rivalry and Canceled Night of Champions Match
Originally slated to face Dominik Mysterio at the Night of Champions event, AJ Styles did not get the chance as the match was canceled when Mysterio was declared medically unfit to compete. Mysterio submitted doctor’s notes to RAW General Manager Adam Pearce, using this angle to delay defending the Intercontinental Championship against Styles. Recently, Mysterio successfully retained the title by defeating Styles again at SummerSlam 2025, continuing their intense rivalry on WWE programming.
EC3 Issues Challenge Outside WWE
In a development outside WWE, former star EC3 publicly called out AJ Styles for a potential singles match in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). During an appearance on Sportskeeda’s The Wrestling Outlaws podcast, EC3 praised Styles’ dedication to wrestling despite recent injuries and limited in-person events.
“The dude loves wrestling. And coming back from injury and without house shows and stuff of that nature, I think he’s still crazy and wants to do more. So I would actually not be surprised if that’s an opportunity that they would take. That’d be cool. If not, I’ll wrestle him in NWA. How about that?” he said. —EC3, Former WWE Star
This challenge highlights Styles’ enduring reputation in the wrestling world and hints at possible opportunities beyond WWE in the future.
AJ Styles’ Impact and Future Prospects
Since joining WWE in 2016, AJ Styles has cemented his legacy with two WWE Championship reigns and a RAW Tag Team Championship alongside Omos. As he continues his storyline centered around the Intercontinental Championship and his rivalry with Mysterio, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how WWE will navigate his next steps after his recent defeat.
This AJ Styles wrestling career update reflects an uncertain but compelling chapter for one of WWE’s most respected performers, with potential shifts not only within WWE but also possibly in other promotions like NWA.
