A Legendary Farewell: AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura and the Final WWE Chapter

Allen Neal Jones, better known as **AJ Styles**, is an American professional wrestler born on June 2, 1977, in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and billed from Gainesville, Georgia. Standing 5-foot-11 and weighing 220 pounds, he is renowned as "The Phenomenal One" for his signature moves like the Phenomenal Forearm, Styles Clash, and Calf Crusher.[2][6] Styles debuted in 1998 in independent promotions like NWA Wildside, gaining prominence in 2002 with Ring of Honor and NWA Total Nonstop Action (TNA, now Impact Wrestling). He became the cornerstone of TNA's X-Division as its inaugural champion (six-time winner), secured three NWA World Heavyweight Championships, two TNA World Heavyweight Championships, and multiple tag titles, earning distinction as the first TNA Grand Slam Champion.[1][2][3][4][5] As a free agent in 2014, Styles joined New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), aligning with Bullet Club and capturing the IWGP Heavyweight Championship twice, becoming the first American holder since Brock Lesnar.[1][2][4] He debuted in WWE at the 2016 Royal Rumble, quickly rising to main-event status. His WWE accolades include two WWE Championships (first at Backlash 2016), three United States Championships, one Intercontinental Championship, and one Raw Tag Team Championship, making him a WWE Triple Crown and Grand Slam Champion with 31 total titles across promotions.[2][5][6] Named Pro Wrestling Illustrated's No. 1 wrestler in 2010 and 2016 Wrestler of the Year, Styles boasts a career record of 1,383 wins in 2,312 matches (59.8% win rate).[1][2] Currently signed to WWE's Raw brand at age 48, he remains a top draw with his aerial athleticism and technical prowess, continuing to compete at the highest level.[5][6]

Shinsuke Nakamura, born February 24, 1980, in Kyoto, Japan, is a professional wrestler renowned for his hard-hitting style, technical prowess, and charismatic "Rock Star" persona, nicknamed the **King of Strong Style**.[1][3][5] Standing 6'2" and weighing around 220-229 lbs, he debuted in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) in 2002 as a "Super Rookie," quickly rising as part of the "new Three Musketeers" alongside Hiroshi Tanahashi and Katsuyori Shibata.[2][6] In NJPW, Nakamura achieved legendary status, becoming the youngest IWGP Heavyweight Champion at age 23 by defeating Hiroyoshi Tenzan in 2003; he won the title three times total, along with five IWGP Intercontinental Championships, one IWGP Tag Team Championship, the 2011 G1 Climax, 2014 New Japan Cup, and 2006 G1 Tag League.[1][2][3] He earned accolades like Wrestling Observer's 2014 Wrestler of the Year, 2015 Match of the Year, and two Tokyo Sports Best Bout Awards (2013-2014).[1] Nakamura also competed in MMA with a 3-1-1 record from 2002-2004.[1][5] Joining WWE in 2016, he debuted in NXT, capturing the NXT Championship twice and earning 2016 NXT Male and Overall Competitor of the Year honors.[1][3] Promoted to SmackDown in April 2017, he won the 2018 Men's Royal Rumble, followed by two United States Championships (first in 2018), two Intercontinental Championships (first in 2019), and the SmackDown Tag Team Championship with Cesaro in 2020.[1][3][4][5] Notable victories include John Cena, Randy Orton, and Dolph Ziggler.[3] As of recent records, Nakamura remains active on WWE's **SmackDown** brand, continuing as a singles and tag team wrestler with signature moves like Kinshasa and Good Vibrations.[3][5][7] His career spans over 20 major titles, blending puroresu roots with global stardom.[5]

Günther, born Mats Söderlund on July 25, 1967, in Malmö, Sweden, is a Swedish singer known primarily for his Europop and Eurodance music style. Before his music career, he worked as a fashion model and owned two nightclubs in Malmö. Günther gained widespread recognition in 2004 with his hit single "Ding Dong Song," featuring his backup singers, the Sunshine Girls. The track topped the Swedish charts and became notable for its catchy, campy, and sexually suggestive lyrics and video. This song was included in his album *Pleasureman*, initially released in 1991 and later reissued in various countries. Following his initial success, Günther continued to release singles such as "Teeny Weeny String Bikini" and "Like Fire Tonight," with the latter entering the Melodifestivalen, Sweden’s national music competition, in 2006, though it did not advance to the finals. He maintained a presence in the European dance music scene through various performances and festival appearances, including notable events like Stockholm Pride and the 1990s-themed festival "Vi som älskar 90-talet Karlstad." After a period of lower activity, Günther returned in 2013 with the electro house-influenced single "I'm Not Justin Bieber, Bitch," whose music video garnered over 5.6 million views by mid-2023. He is recognized for blending 1990s Eurodance with contemporary pop elements and has a dedicated fan base in Sweden and parts of Europe. Günther remains active as a performer, known for his distinctive style and humorous, provocative stage persona[1][3][5][7][8].