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WWE Superstar AJ Styles is regarded by many to be an all-time great of the industry. His run in the sports entertainment juggernaut over the past several years has featured acclaimed matches against names such as John Cena, Brock Lesnar, The Undertaker and, more recently, Cody Rhodes, and its overall quality has led many to believe that the former WWE Champion will continue to stay in the Stamford-based promotion.
A recent report from Fightful, however, revealed that The Phenomenal One's WWE contract is set to run out late this year or by early 2025. The update, interestingly, could not share any concrete news on whether Styles had penned a new deal with the Stamford-based company. This immediately led to speculations online about the prospect of AJ Styles signing with AEW, which has recruited several massive free agents and ex-WWE talent over the past five years.
As such, let us consider three reasons why AJ Styles could think about switching from WWE to AEW in 2025.
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#1. AJ Styles may have reached his ceiling in WWE
Since his debut at the 2016 Royal Rumble, AJ Styles has enjoyed an incredibly decorated career in WWE. Over the last eight years, the 47-year-old star has found success in singles and tag team action, having held the WWE Championship twice, the United States Championship thrice, and the Intercontinental Championship on one occasion, besides being a former RAW Tag Team Champion with Omos. Shy of winning a Royal Rumble match, the 32nd Triple Crown Champion has arguably achieved more or less everything a star of his caliber can look forward to achieving in his current workplace.
AEW, on the other hand, would allow Styles to rejuvenate his career at present. Instead of not being utilized on-screen despite being healthy (as is the case according to recent reports), the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion could feasibly be featured on AEW television as a top attraction, and compete for its numerous championships, whose legitimacy and lineages he, in turn, would greatly elevate.
#2. Fresh feuds and dream matches await AJ Styles in AEW
Before he began his career in WWE, AJ Styles was considered to be one of the best wrestlers in the world for his work across promotions such as TNA Wrestling, Ring of Honor (ROH), and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Several of Styles' former peers, whom he has not shared a ring with in a while, are currently signed with AEW. Heading over to the Tony Khan-led company would open up the opportunity for The Phenomenal One to explore some potential dream matches against names such as "Hangman" Adam Page, Swerve Strickland, and Darby Allin. Styles would also be able to re-visit his former rivalries with Jon Moxley, Samoa Joe, Ricochet, and Adam Copeland, who have all jumped ship from WWE to AEW.
Fans have also long clamored for a match between the 47-year-old veteran and the current AEW International Champion, Will Ospreay. The two men last squared off one-on-one nearly a decade ago at RevPro High Stakes 2015, and a bout between the two high-flyers would make for an unforgettable encounter.
Notably, the singles division of AEW is not the only one in which Styles could thrive, as he could also link up with a couple of his former stablemates to participate in tag team and trios action.
#3. AJ Styles could reunite with The Young Bucks
AJ Styles formed an alliance with The Young Bucks during his time in NJPW as a member of the Bullet Club. Matthew and Nicholas Jackson had teamed up with The Phenomenal One on numerous occasions in ROH and NJPW as well. Styles' time in the Bullet Club came to an unfortunate end after he was kicked out by the group and replaced by Kenny Omega as leader before his WWE debut.
The Young Bucks are currently the AEW World Tag Team Champions and are members of the top heel group, The Elite, alongside Jack Perry and Kazuchika Okada. Should he opt to go All Elite, Styles could easily be slotted into a program with the AEW EVPs, either as an ally or as an obstacle to their current villainous ways. While the former path would enable the 47-year-old star to pursue the AEW World Trios Championship with The Young Bucks, the latter route would allow him to re-ignite his feud with The Rainmaker, and even potentially join forces with Kenny Omega against The Elite.
Although, in all likelihood, AJ Styles will re-sign with WWE, should he decide to have one last run outside the Stamford-based company, AEW could serve as the platform where The Phenomenal One could finish his career and solidify his pro-wrestling legacy.
