John Cena Crowns AJ Styles As The Greatest Of All Time

John Cena dropped a remark on Chris Van Vliet’s Insight that sent wrestling Twitter into overdrive. When asked to sum up AJ Styles, Cena did not hedge. He called Styles the “best to ever do it,” credited the former TNA and WWE star with turning hard moves into something that looks effortless, and insisted that the polish comes from relentless practice, not magic. 

Cena’s praise arrives at a pivotal moment in both men’s careers, with Cena preparing to step away from the ring and Styles reportedly planning to retire in 2026. The timing makes the compliment feel less like idle praise and more like a passing of the torch from one generational standard bearer to another. 

Why John Cena Calls AJ Styles The Best To Ever Do It

Cena’s assessment is striking because he has wrestled against dozens of elite performers across decades. When an athlete with John Cena’s career catalog singles someone out, it demands attention. Cena said there is not much Styles cannot do and that Styles makes difficult moves look easy because he has done them 10,000 times. 

That line explains the core of the compliment. Excellence in pro wrestling blends athleticism, timing, psychology, and repetition in the ring. Cena was highlighting how mastery reads like natural talent while actually being the result of obsessive work. 

This is not the first time peers and critics have praised Styles. His matches with Cena, Shawn Michaels, and others have been lauded by fans and outlets for delivering consistently high quality. 

The context matters. Cena and Styles met most recently at Crown Jewel, where the contest was framed as one of the last marquee clashes for both men. The match added emotional weight to anything either legend said about the other after the bell. 

What Makes AJ Styles Stand Out In The Ring

AJ Styles built his reputation long before WWE. He made his name in the independent scene and then in TNA, where a mix of agility, ring IQ, and a compact but explosive moveset set him apart. When Styles arrived in WWE, he carried that reputation with him and then expanded it, proving that his style could draw mainstream stadium heat without compromising the nuance of his craft. 

Wrestling writers regularly point to the variety in his repertoire. He can tell an intimate story in a ten-minute singles match and then pivot to a chaos-filled multi-person spotfest and still remain the focal point. The practical takeaways from Cena’s line about practice are visible match by match. 

Styles rarely fumbles timing, sells the psychology of a sequence, or appears off-rhythm. That level of control is why veteran wrestlers who have shared the ring with him often say his work elevates their own. Shawn Michaels, who mentored younger talent in WWE and now works with NXT, has a storied history of teaching and elevating performers.

 When someone like Cena compares Styles to the best of all time, even more than the likes of The Rock, Triple H, Ric Flair, The Undertaker, or even Roman Reigns. It is a nod to Styles joining that very small club of performers whose peaks have been sustained across eras. 

Where John Cena And Aj Styles Are Right Now

John Cena is in the final chapter of a legendary in-ring career. His media appearances and matches in 2025 have been part of a farewell narrative that WWE and mainstream outlets have been covering closely. 

Cena’s conversation with Chris Van Vliet was taped as part of that media run and included reflections on his own legacy and the peers he respects most. AJ Styles remains under WWE contract, and signs have indicated he plans to retire in 2026 while exploring backstage roles such as coaching or training. 

Wrestling outlets covering the scene have been clear that while Styles will not be doing a drawn-out farewell tour like others, he may stick around in a non-wrestling capacity. That career arc helps explain why Cena’s compliment lands as both tribute and acknowledgement of a near contemporary who will influence the next generation. 

Shawn Michaels continues to be associated with WWE and works in talent development and creative capacities with NXT. His legacy as one of the all-time greats remains intact, and his name appeared in Cena’s comments as someone who has taken care of Cena’s career in earlier days. 

Mentioning Michaels in the same breath as Styles was Cena’s way of framing Styles among icons who shaped modern pro wrestling. Confirming each man’s current role before assigning accolades is important because legacy is as much about what a performer did as what they continue to do for the business. 

Legacy Implications And What Fans Should Expect Next

If one were to read Cena’s comment as prophecy, it suggests AJ Styles will be remembered beyond highlight reels. Legacy in pro wrestling is messy because careers are long and stories get rewritten by new stars and new eras. 

The immediate effect of Cena’s declaration is cultural confirmation. Fans will revisit older matches, podcasters will debate the ranking, and young talents will point to Styles’ sequences as the blueprint for how to make difficulty look seamless.

From a practical standpoint, Styles’ potential transition into a trainer or coach matters more than ever. If he adopts a backstage role, he could directly shape future talents’ approach to repetition and craft. Cena publicly praising that repetition style of mastery may encourage a renewed emphasis in WWE on fundamentals and in-ring timing instead of pure spectacle. 

Fans who love classic wrestling psychology will welcome that. Wrestling journalists will continue to track Styles’ post-in-ring plans and any official WWE announcements. Expect outlets that specialize in wrestling news to follow up frequently because the retirement timeline remains fluid. 

Final Thoughts

John Cena applauding AJ Styles as the best to ever do it is more than a soundbite. It is a veteran athlete recognizing craft in a peer he respects. Whether history will ultimately cement Styles at the absolute top of all time is for scholars of the sport and future generations of fans to debate. 

For now, there is value in the recognition itself because it highlights an essential truth about pro wrestling success. Mastery does not arrive fully formed. Mastery arrives after thousands of repetitions, careful timing, and an uncompromising commitment to making the difficult look effortless. Cena’s words should be taken as both praise and an invitation to rewatch the work.