CM Punk doesn’t like to think about AJ Styles’ looming retirement.
Punk might go down as AJ Styles’ farewell opponent on WWE RAW. The two collided for the World Heavyweight Championship in the main event, but the match was cut short due to Finn Balor’s interference, setting up a potential rematch with the Straight Edge Superstar.
Backstage, WWE cameras caught CM Punk after his grueling encounter with AJ Styles and the subsequent beating from Finn Balor. He looked visibly emotional while talking about Styles, refusing to believe he might have been part of the Phenomenal One’s last match on the red brand.
“I don’t wanna believe it’s AJ’s last match on Raw,” CM Punk said. “It’s a funny thing, him saying this is gonna be his last year, but it’s barely February. This can’t be the end of the Phenomenal One, but I’ve been in the ring with Gunther and I can, without ego, say I beat Gunther, but I don’t feel like I beat him, I feel like I survived.”
CM Punk on AJ Styles and John Cena
Punk then explained why he refuses to take Styles’ retirement announcement at face value, sharing his discomfort at the thought of seeing the Phenomenal One retire just two months after watching John Cena ride off into the sunset.
“So for AJ to be able to pull this out, I don’t know, the stakes are just too high, I don’t like and don’t like to think of it, we just saw John Cena retire, and it’s hard to fathom in a two-month span we’re losing John Cena and AJ Styles.”
Rumors heavily suggest AJ Styles will retire at the Royal Rumble this Saturday when he faces Gunther in Riyadh. WWE’s retirement plans for the Phenomenal One were seemingly spoiled by Shinsuke Nakamura on social media after his outing against Styles at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
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