WWE Hall of Famer AJ Styles retired from in-ring competition in January 2026. However, The Phenomenal One’s son, Avery Jones, is seemingly gearing up to step into his shoes.
Styles wrestled his last match at the 2026 Royal Rumble Premium Live Event. He lost to Gunther via submission in a career-threatening contest. The former WWE Champion passed out after The Ring General locked him in a vicious Sleeper Hold.
Thanks for the submission!
Following his in-ring retirement, AJ Styles has been focusing on shaping the future of pro wrestling. He has been scouting and training up-and-coming pro wrestlers, including his son Avery Jones.
On Instagram, Avery Jones recently uploaded a video performing the iconic Spiral Tap. The maneuver was made famous by Avery’s father, AJ Styles, during his TNA Wrestling run. Avery used Post Malone’s popular song “White Iverson” in his story and even tagged The Phenomenal One.
You can watch the video featuring Avery Jones in the tweet below.
Avery Jones is training to become a professional wrestler. The Spiral Tap, which is essentially a flying corkscrew senton bomb, is among the most difficult moves to perform in pro wrestling. Styles used it to win several crucial matches in TNA and NJPW. Avery, who is 19, executed the maneuver perfectly in the above video.
Why did AJ Styles stop using the Spiral Tap in the latter stages of his in-ring career?
AJ Styles was among the most agile and athletic cruiserweights during his time in TNA Wrestling. However, he gradually changed his wrestling style, becoming more of a technician inside the squared circle.
Styles stopped performing the Spiral Tap in the latter stages of his in-ring career. In an interview with CBS Sports, The Phenomenal One revealed the reason why he retired the breathtaking maneuver from his arsenal.
“If you’ve ever heard, ‘if you don’t use it, you lose it,’ that’s 100% the case. It’s a very awkward way to flip and do stuff. I had put it on the back burner for so long, I just lost it. It’s in my head. I can’t pull it off the way (…) if I can’t pull it off the way that I want to do it, I don’t want to do it at all. If it’s not perfect (…) I haven’t attempted it on a trampoline, in a pool, nothing. It’s there for the Ospreays [Will Ospreay] and anybody else who wants to do it,” Styles said.
Top AEW star Will Ospreay, who was a massive fan of Styles growing up, uses the Spiral Tap. He also performs the Styles Clash to pay homage to the former WWE Champion.
AJ Styles was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026 by his longtime friends and former teammates, The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows).
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Edited by Pratik Singh
