AJ Styles Reveals What He Disliked About His Rivalry With Cody Rhodes in 2024

AJ Styles has looked back on his feud with Cody Rhodes over the Undisputed WWE title.

AJ Styles Reveals What He Disliked About His Rivalry With Cody Rhodes in 2024

Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles [via- CBS Sports]

AJ Styles has briefly touched on his 2024 rivalry with Cody Rhodes over the Undisputed WWE title. The retired wrestling great recalled how he was just trying to double down on that vicious heel character he was playing at the time. But there was no way he was actually going to beat Rhodes for the championship.

It’s simply because of the story they were telling back then. ‘The American Nightmare’ had just slain Roman Reigns at WrestleMania XL to finish his story in one of the most incredible feel-good moments that pro wrestling has ever witnessed.

It was then time for Rhodes to capitalize on that momentum, and he couldn’t have afforded to lose the WWE title right away. That’s where a veteran like AJ entered the conversation. He was entrusted with the onus of posing a viable threat to The QB1’s title reign. The WWE Hall of Famer did exactly what was asked of him in two singles matches that he had with the ex-AEW EVP.

Styles and Rhodes tore the house down at Backlash in France, followed by an ‘I Quit’ match at Clash at the Castle in Scotland. AJ Styles said on his Phenomenally Retro podcast that it felt good to be back in the main event scene. However, that known aspect of him not winning the world title regardless of whatever he put into it deflated the ‘Face That Runs the Place’.

But AJ was still glad to have been a part of such incredible matches that came about in the process. It was during this feud only when Styles faked his retirement to trick Rhodes into a beatdown. That segment was eerily reminiscent of Mark Henry feigning retirement with John Cena at the receiving end in 2013.

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AJ Styles opines on The New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods departing WWE

The WWE Universe still hasn’t fully recovered from the shock of Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods departing the company earlier this month. It was reported that TKO asked the legendary tag team duo to get their deals restructured, the financial metrics of which were not enough to retain Kingston and Woods. AJ Styles was asked to share his thoughts on New Day’s abrupt exit from WWE.

The New Day is no longer with WWE
AJ Styles shared his thoughts on The New Day’s WWE exit [via- BILD.de]

In one of the recent episodes of his podcast, ‘The Phenomenal One’ wasn’t sure if they were released or decided to part ways mutually. The latter was being claimed by several media reports. Brushing that aside, the former WWE Champion hailed Kingston and Woods as “smart guys” for saving their money. AJ wasn’t shocked to see them leave if they felt they weren’t being utilized properly.

‘The Georgia Pitbull’ couldn’t say enough good things about the New Day members. It bummed him out that they wouldn’t be able to hang out while on the road with WWE like they did for so many years. AJ Styles backed his former colleagues in figuring something out for themselves sooner rather than later. For the unversed, there is major interest within AEW about securing Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods.

Several top AEW stars have been reportedly pushing for the multi-time WWE tag team champions to be signed by the Tony Khan-led promotion. WrestleVotes Radio via Fightful Select reported a few days ago that those in AEW that were asked were upbeat about the New Day wrestling at least a match but will have to undergo a name change.

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