AJ Styles delivered one of the most memorable matches of his career against Shinsuke Nakamura at the Tokyo Dome, but fans nearly didnt see that match happen at all. While speaking on The Phenomenally Retro Podcast, Styles revealed that he was dealing with a serious illness just days before traveling to Japan for the now-famous showdown. At the time, he was battling strep throat and feared he might not recover quickly enough to make the trip. Styles described how severe the illness became, explaining that he felt completely drained and unsure if he would be physically ready in time for one of the biggest matches of his career. After initially receiving treatment that didnt help, Styles sought additional medical care and finally saw improvement just in time to board his flight to Japan. Everything ultimately worked out, and the match against Nakamura became one of the defining moments of Styles career. Fans still talk about that Tokyo Dome clash as one of the standout bouts of its era, making the behind-the-scenes struggle even more remarkable. Knowing how close he came to missing the event adds another layer to an already legendary match one that might never have happened if his recovery had taken just a little longer. Does knowing AJ Styles almost missed that Tokyo Dome match change how you look at that classic against Nakamura? Drop your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation. G Add as a preferred source on Google
