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AJ Styles Teases Retirement Announcement, Attacks Cody Rhodes On 5/31 WWE SmackDown

Wrestling
Colin Tessier May 31, 2024 9:16PM

It was a trap.

At the end of the May 31 episode of WWE SmackDown, AJ Styles came to the ring to address his future he told Nick Aldis that he did not have enough time to earn a world title shot the week before. Throughout the show, it was heavily teased that Styles may be announcing his retirement. He hugged Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes backstage before it was time for him to speak.

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Styles came to the ring with his O.C. stablemates Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows, though they had been estranged in recent months. He noted that he did not have time to go to the back of the line at this stage of his career, as he looked back on how long he had worked hard to get there. Styles admitted that he had a moment of clarity as he realized that he had missed many moments with his family. He wondered if it might be time for him to stay home and be a phenomenal father.

Styles told Gallows and Anderson that he loved them, and they gave each other a "Too Sweet" before they hugged. Styles then asked Cody Rhodes to come down and said that their match at WWE Backlash was a fitting way for him to go out. The veteran said that he was handing Rhodes the keys to The House that AJ Styles built.

Rhodes emotionally thanked Styles, and they hugged. Styles then blindsided Rhodes and hit him with a Styles Clash off the steel steps while Gallows and Anderson stopped officials from getting involved.

Click here to catch up on our coverage of the May 31 episode of WWE SmackDown. For a full review, check out the post-show podcast on our YouTube channel.

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