Felix Upton on February 2, 2026
AJ Styles may be retired from in-ring action in WWE, but the stories around his WWE career keep coming—and now, we know why one of his most iconic catchphrases got shut down.
Speaking on the Rewind Recap Relive podcast, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson peeled back the curtain on the short-lived yet wildly popular “Beat Up John Cena” catchphrase from Styles’ 2016 feud with Cena. According to Gallows, the chant wasn’t part of a grand WWE plan—it was something they created themselves.
“Yeah, it was organic the way it began, and it was organic the way it ended,” Gallows explained. “You remember, it was only a few weeks, but it caught on like wildfire.”
Gallows said the trio was so into it, they made their own T-shirts just to hype the gimmick even more. But just as quickly as the phrase caught on, WWE pulled the plug—directly from the top.
“I flew home, I went to a T-shirt shop and got non-WWE black T-shirts with white lettering that said ‘Beat Up John Cena’ for the three of us, so we could wear them on Raw that Monday. And then Vince called AJ and said, ‘Don’t ever say that again.’ And that was the end of it.”
Karl Anderson confirmed the shutdown, saying one of the Talent Relations staff gave them the heads-up.
“One of the TR guys said that Vince said we weren’t allowed to say it anymore. Sometimes it’s just the political ramifications of being there.”
The reveal comes at a time when AJ Styles is once again at the center of speculation. With WWE confirming he’s done as a performer, Triple H recently revealed that Styles told him directly he’s finished with the “in-ring part,” but discussions are ongoing about a producer or mentor role—potentially within NXT.
Meanwhile, Sean Ross Sapp noted on Fightful’s post-Royal Rumble show that AEW talent has been openly discussing Styles’ post-WWE future behind the scenes.
“Everybody was talking about it backstage at Dynamite this past week,” Sapp reported. “Certainly, it’s being speculated in AEW.”
Add in Styles’ recent trademark filings for his name and logo, and it’s clear the door isn’t closed—just shifting to a new phase. Even then, stories like this remind fans just how much impact—and controversy—Styles and his Club had in WWE.
What do you think about WWE shutting down “Beat Up John Cena”? And could we see AJ Styles pop up in AEW down the line? Leave your thoughts and let us know what you think below.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
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