It seems WWE fans will have to wait a bit longer before The Phenomenal One lives up to his moniker in the squared circle again. AJ Styles, one of wrestling’s most consistent high-flyers, has been grounded since his October 4th match against Carmelo Hayes on WWE SmackDown. And judging by his latest update, the comeback trail isn’t exactly paved with five-star matches.
When asked on social media (via X, formerly Twitter, because of course Elon had to rename it) about his recovery process, Styles didn’t sugarcoat things: “I’ll be honest, this injury is challenging.” Translation? Not phenomenal.
For those who missed it, the injury occurred during Styles’ bout with Hayes, where his foot decided to stage a walkout mid-match. After a dramatic sequence involving limping, a concerned referee, and what can only be described as “an uncooperative leg,” Styles’ attempts at a neckbreaker resulted in an unplanned midfoot rebellion. Medical professionals later confirmed a Lisfranc injury—a condition so complicated, it sounds like it should come with a user manual.
Signs of Recovery? Sort of. Maybe.
Styles was spotted backstage at TNA Final Resolution on December 13, sans crutches, brace, or the ever-dreaded orthopedic boot. While this sparked optimism, insiders confirm that he’s still not 100%. In wrestling terms, that’s like saying a steel cage match is “a little intense.”
Since his injury, Styles has been missing from in-ring action, his last major match being against Naomichi Marufuji for Pro Wrestling NOAH back in July. He also took an L at WWE Clash at the Castle in an “I Quit” match against Cody Rhodes—a rare moment when Styles actually said the words “I quit,” which his fans are still in denial about.
For now, Styles’ timetable for return remains as vague as a Brock Lesnar promo. But if there’s one thing fans know about AJ Styles, it’s that the man can turn even the grimmest situations into phenomenal comebacks. Whether that’s weeks, months, or WrestleMania seasons away, we’ll just have to wait—and hope his Lisfranc feels like cooperating.