The RAC Arena was buzzing with excitement as they watched John Cena and AJ Styles in the same ring for the last time. But before they squared off, Cena handed a custom intro to Alicia Taylor, which featured a line that called him the “undisputed boss of The Bullet Club.”
While the Aussie crowd cheered for The Phenomenal One, it reminded us of the Vince McMahon era, where Finn Balor was punished for hitting the ‘Too Sweet’ gesture following his bout against Styles at TLC 2017. Check out the tweet below:
Finn Balor vs. AJ Styles TLC 2017
Too sweet 🤘 pic.twitter.com/muvMDnYHaN
The then-CEO of WWE was not pleased with this unscripted moment immediately, as that moment was unscripted, and booked him against Kane.
Since then, Balor’s WWE career has gone off track, making him look like a midcarder and stripping him of all the fame and glory that he once showcased at NXT and in his first few weeks on the main roster. But tonight is not about regrets, as AJ Styles decided to send an emotional message to the fans through his costume.
AJ Styles Appears in a Throwback Gear Against John Cena
The bout between John Cena and AJ Styles is truly emotional as the latter appeared at the Crown Jewel kick-off show, shocking the fans, and announcing that “In 2026, I will retire” (via Instagram). He said,
There comes a time in a man’s life when he has to take care of business, but when business is done, it’s time to take care of his family. I need to spend time with my family. The whole idea with wrestling and having an amazing future in this business is to be able to retire one day. In 2026, I will retire.
The announcement was a bolt from the blue, but that was just the beginning, because tonight he decided to go back to showcase a glimpse of his TNA career, appearing in shorts like he used to do between 2002 and 2013.
AJ Styles vs. John Cena: The 2025 Crown Jewel Clash Stole the Spotlight
John Cena versus AJ Styles for the final time was a wrestling classic, evoking the memories of millions of wrestling fans around the world. The match started off slow as both titans of wrestling showcased their respect for each other, but it amped up the momentum, with both of them showcasing their in-ring finesse, desperate to pick up the win to have the bragging rights for the rest of their lives.
However, neither of them went low as they were having fun, and The Cenation Leader paid tribute to his rivals, using the moves of Randy Orton, The Miz, Bray Wyatt, Rusev, The Undertaker, Chris Jericho, and more. Even Styles did not hold back as he used Shawn Michaels’ finisher, Sweet Chin Music, to pick up the win. That was not enough, as Cena brought out his super self to deliver a Tombstone Piledriver to finish the match and pick up his 100th win.
The match was surely a wrestling classic, with John Cena and AJ Styles going all out against each other. Did you enjoy the match? Let us know in the comments below!
Crown Jewel can currently be streamed on ESPN (USA) and on Netflix internationally.
