Ranking the Phenomenal One’s Best WWE Matches

A.J. Styles has announced that he will retire from in-ring competition in 2026. Styles, who’s had a legendary career across multiple promotions such as TNA, Ring of Honor, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and WWE, has delivered some amazing matches throughout his 25+ years as a competitor. No one could have imagined he would ever end up in WWE, and when he signed in 2016, it was only a matter of time before he would compete against WWE’s best performers and deliver instant classics. Whatever Styles does after his career is over, he will always be remembered as one of the greatest ever to do it. Here, we have ranked five of Styles’ best matches during his run in WWE.

Honorable Mention: Against John Cena at Crown Jewel 2025

This match came about after John Cena asked the fans on social media if they wanted to see him and Styles compete in one final match as part of Cena's retirement tour. What followed was a love letter not only to Cena’s previous opponents, but to Styles’ past opponents as well. Paying tribute to wrestlers such as Bray Wyatt, Shawn Michaels, Sting, Christopher Daniels, and others, both men put on a clinic in their final encounter, as both men will retire from in-ring competition within the next few months. When both men put an end to their respective careers, people will be talking about this match for years to come. No one can say they didn’t put it all in the ring, and both men can retire happily knowing that in their last match against one another, they put out the performance they could in front of an amazing Australian crowd.

5. Against Shane McMahon at WrestleMania 33

On paper, this match was just supposed to be a forgotten encounter with minimal memorable moments, featuring two opponents with significantly different wrestling styles. What we got instead was an underrated classic that overdelivered with amazing spots in front of an Orlando crowd on the Grandest Stage of them all. Despite Shane McMahon not having the same technical ability as Styles, he was able to keep up with him and defy the odds with moves McMahon had kept hidden in his repertoire for a while. Styles won the match and made sure that the crowd was fired up in the opening match of WrestleMania.

4. Against Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series 2017

Brock Lesnar isn’t known for having long and entertaining matches, but when he’s up against an opponent he respects, you best believe he will go all out to put on the match of the night. Styles, being the much smaller opponent, began the match being thrown around and beaten up by the much larger Lesnar. Once Styles turned it around, the real match started. Styles took Lesnar to the limit and almost pulled off the shock upset when he landed the Phenomenal Forearm. Unfortunately, it was not enough as Lesnar F5’d Styles to put him away finally. Lesnar made sure that Styles looked like a million bucks despite overpowering him for most of the match.

3. Against Daniel Bryan at TLC 2018

This match is one of Styles’ least talked about during his run in WWE, but it is one of the most technical matches he has delivered in his career. A technical showdown in WWE in 2018 wasn’t something imaginable, but Styles and Daniel Bryan went back-and-forth in a 25-minute barn burner to the enjoyment of the crowd. From submissions to high-flying impact, this match, being for the WWE Championship, felt even more important. No man would let up, and it would take a roll-up victory from Bryan to end the match and allow Bryan to retain his championship. This match is the closest we got to seeing the TNA version of Styles in WWE, and it was a pleasure to see him go against a very special talent like Bryan.

2. Against John Cena at SummerSlam 2016

Styles was on a mission to “beat up John Cena” in their second-ever encounter in a dream match many thought could never happen. Styles had just debuted earlier in the year, and it was only a matter of time before he was set up to challenge the face of the WWE. Styles was 1-0 against Cena, and this match delivered even more than their first. The most shocking moment of the match was Styles cleanly picking up the win over Cena. Without any interference or shenanigans, Styles had just pinned the biggest name in WWE history. The trust that WWE had in Styles was so large that this victory would catapult Styles into the WWE title picture. As for the match, it was another example that Cena could work in the ring with just about anyone and deliver on the biggest stages imaginable. The decision to have Styles come out as the winner was the correct one, and this would have been their most excellent match ever, had their next match not raised the stakes.

1. Against John Cena at Royal Rumble 2017

Styles, the WWE Champion, against Cena, the man looking to become a 16-time world champion. The stakes could not have been any higher, and what transpired was a match for the ages. Both men never left the ring during the match, keeping it all inside the ring for a 25-minute encounter. Cena went deep into his arsenal to try to put away Styles as quickly as possible, while Styles kept the pace running to wear Cena down. It didn’t matter which way the match went, as the crowd was mesmerized by every single move performed, sitting at the edge of their seats and giving both men a standing ovation for their outstanding efforts. In the end, it was Cena who would deliver a Super AA from the top ropes, followed by one more AA to win the match and tie Ric Flair’s record for most world title reigns. Styles cemented himself as one of Cena’s greatest rivals in an unforgettable night, leaving this match as his best match in his WWE career.