A heartfelt farewell: AJ Styles' emotional goodbye to Japan.
As AJ Styles prepares to retire from the ring, his final matches hold a special significance. Last week, before his highly anticipated match against John Cena, Styles confirmed his plans to hang up his boots at the end of next year. This means that WWE's recent tour of Japan could be Styles' last hurrah in the country that played a pivotal role in his career.
Japan has been a crucial part of AJ's journey. He worked there during his peak years in TNA, but it was his time with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) as the leader of Bullet Club and IWGP Heavyweight champion that truly left a mark. This stint likely convinced WWE to bring him in and showcase him as a main eventer.
On October 18th, at the Supershow in Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, AJ Styles wasn't in the main event spotlight. He had already defeated Kofi Kingston earlier in the day and shared a moment with Naomichi Marufuji from Pro Wrestling NOAH. But it was after the main event that Styles truly stole the show.
CM Punk, who once seemed unlikely to ever share the ring with Styles, brought him out to close the show. Punk acknowledged that this might be Styles' last time wrestling in Tokyo, and the crowd went wild. AJ, the man of the moment, had a few special words for the Japanese fans, in both English and their native language.
He had his colleague and rival, Shinsuke Nakamura, prepared with remarks in Japanese. Several WWE roster members joined in the celebration, hoisting Styles on their shoulders. This was a truly special moment, and Styles had a heartfelt message for the Japanese crowd.
"It should be me thanking you for everything you've done for AJ Styles. So, thank you for everything you've done for me. I don't know where I'd be without you. I'm certain I wouldn't be here in the WWE if it weren't for you, coming and wrestling in Japan. I wrote something, and I had it translated into Japanese because I wanted to ensure it was said in your language, so you know how much I love and appreciate you. Nakamura, would you mind reading what I wrote?"
Nakamura then read out Styles' heartfelt message, which expressed his gratitude and love for the Japanese people and their passion for professional wrestling. It was a beautiful moment, and a fitting tribute to AJ Styles' career and his connection with Japan.
But here's where it gets controversial... Should WWE have given Styles a bigger send-off in Japan? Did they do enough to celebrate his impact on the country's wrestling scene? And what does this mean for the future of WWE's relationship with Japan? These are questions worth pondering. What are your thoughts? Feel free to share your opinions in the comments below!
