Cody Rhodes comes face-to-face with 2-time WWE Champion during SmackDown

Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles came face-to-face during the latest episode of WWE SmackDown.

Styles defeated his long-standing rival LA Knight last week, thus earning the right to challenge Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Incredibly, this clash will mark the first-ever encounter between these two formidable competitors inside the wrestling ring. This week's SmackDown kicked off with the contract signing for the much-anticipated match, which is scheduled to headline Backlash: France in just over a week.

The Phenomenal One expressed his respect for Rhodes, acknowledging that both he and Styles had to pave their own paths before reaching the top in WWE. He recalled being taught how to be a champion by Cody's legendary father, Dusty Rhodes. Styles emphasized that their match at Backlash would determine if The American Nightmare could carry the championship.

Rhodes then got on the mic and acknowledged the widespread respect for AJ Styles and dubbed him the "Excellence of Execution." However, he asserted that at Backlash 2024, that respect would take a backseat. Rhodes said that it was not just about winning the championship, but also retaining it and vowed to demonstrate his mettle against Styles.

It will be intriguing to see if Styles can quickly end Rhodes' fairytale story and become the new champion.