AJ Styles Rekindles Feud With John Cena by Reviving Iconic 2016 Catchphrase

Ahead of their final encounter at Crown Jewel in Australia, AJ Styles reignites his rivalry with John Cena by bringing back nostalgia.

AJ Styles Rekindles Feud With John Cena by Reviving Iconic 2016 Catchphrase

AJ Styles and John Cena (via WWE)

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The rivalry is officially reignited! The September 29th segment of Monday Night Raw, which aired live from the Lenovo Center in North Carolina, confirmed that the highly anticipated clash between legendary rivals John Cena and AJ Styles at Crown Jewel is finally getting the build it deserves.

The blockbuster one-on-one match, set for the Premium Live Event in Australia next month, became a reality after an intense online campaign by fans and Cena himself. Giving in to the 17-time World Champion’s demands, WWE CCO Triple H took to X to make their final encounter official.

On Raw, Styles, teaming with Dragon Lee to take on the newly formed duo of Rio & Bravo of Los Americanos, took a moment to address the WWE Universe directly about the upcoming bout. ‘The Phenomenal One’ thanked the fans for their role in making the match happen, but delivered the message with a famous twist from their 2016 rivalry.

Well, thanks to you guys, I have a match at Crown Jewel against John Cena. So I want to take a moment to say thank you, I get to do something I love. I get to beat up John Cena.

AJ Styles via Monday Night Raw

For the unversed, the catchphrase “beat up John Cena” became famous during Styles’ initial run as a villain, where he was allied with his former Bullet Club members Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows as part of The Club. That villainous trio relentlessly targeted Cena, a feud that quickly became one of the most compelling of the modern era.

The rivalry truly paid off, as Cena and Styles went on to have a series of critically acclaimed classics at major events like Money in the Bank, SummerSlam, and the Royal Rumble between 2016 and 2017. With Styles reviving his aggressive, taunting persona from that era, the final installment of this legendary feud at Crown Jewel is poised to be a memorable one.

The encounter in Australia isn’t just another match. It carries immense emotional weight, as both rivals are nearing the end of their storied careers. WWE has scheduled Cena’s final outing for December 13th later this year, making his showdown with Styles one of his last major PLE appearances. 

Meanwhile, Styles recently announced that he plans to wrap up his career by next year. He further cemented this timeline by stating his upcoming live events in Japan would be the last of his career. With the finish line in sight for both men, the anticipation is heightened for how this rivalry will end and how the company will honor two of its greatest legends ever as they step away from the ring.

AJ Styles praises Asuka and Iyo Sky as the two best women’s wrestlers on the current WWE roster

While AJ Styles is preparing for his final career stretch, he hasn’t lost sight of the talent currently dominating the WWE landscape, particularly in the women’s division. ‘The Phenomenal One’ recently singled out Iyo Sky and Asuka, calling them two of the best wrestlers on the entire roster. This praise comes at a crucial time, as Sky and Asuka are deeply involved in a complex, high-stakes rivalry. 

Iyo Sky, Asuka and AJ Styles
Iyo Sky, Asuka and AJ Styles (via WWE)

The current dynamic features a chaotic alliance involving Rhea Ripley and Kairi Sane. The situation escalated when Asuka recently turned heel, blinding both Sky and Ripley with her signature green mist. This intense conflict has led to a major tag team bout next month in Australia at Crown Jewel, where Ripley and Sky will face Sane and Asuka.

Ahead of WWE’s tour in Japan, Styles spoke to ABEMA about the exceptional talent of the Japanese-born stars, noting that their experience before WWE gives them a unique edge.

Iyo Sky is one of the best athletes I have ever seen. She is unbelievable. There’s other girls that have gotten the opportunity — Asuka’s amazing as well. They just have something that a lot of other — not just women, but men — that some of them just don’t have.

AJ Styles via ABEMA

Styles highlighted their incredible growth and success in Japan. Sky, for example, was a two-time Wonder of Stardom Champion, while Asuka is a former JWP Openweight Champion and Smash Diva Champion.

What adds a fascinating layer to their current on-screen feud is their shared history: both Asuka and Sky were once members of the faction Triple Tails, an alliance that saw them compete together in Japan and Mexico during the 2010s. 

It would be a compelling narrative choice if WWE were to reference this history, allowing Asuka to fully embrace her sinister side and the ‘Evil Clown’ Kana persona she used earlier in her career. 

As Sky has climbed to the top of the division, heralded by many as the best wrestler in the company, Asuka, a former world champion herself, may be looking to prove that the veteran can still outperform the younger generation.

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