By Shakiel Mahjouri
AJ Styles faked his retirement last week to blindside undisputed WWE champion Cody Rhodes. A vengeful Rhodes plans to make Styles utter the words he teased last week, "I Quit."
Rhodes and Styles met in their first match at WWE Backlash that got rave reviews. Their sequel is shaping up to be even more intense. Styles succeeded in luring Rhodes into granting him a title rematch by brutally attacking him last week under the ruse of retiring. It's a decision he may regret after pulling out Rhodes' dark side.
The Bloodline was also prominently featured on SmackDown. Solo Sikoa gave Tama Tonga a promotion, officially welcomed Tanga Loa to the group and furthered their feud with Kevin Owens and the Street Profits.
Rhodes wants to make Styles quit
Rhodes was on the lookout for Styles all night following last week's brutal attack. Rhodes was pacing around the loading dock waiting for Styles to arrive. SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis and security met with Rhodes later in the evening. Aldis warned Rhodes that Styles, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows were arriving shortly.
Rhodes stormed to the ring and grabbed a microphone. The undisputed WWE champion demanded that Styles come to the ring. The O.C. acknowledged the request. Rhodes told Styles he would grant him an undisputed WWE title rematch; however, it wouldn't be a traditional match. Rhodes said he would make Styles do what "The Phenomenal" one should have done last week and say, "I quit" at Clash at the Castle. Aldis gave a thumbs-up to make the match official.
Rhodes attempted to brawl with Styles but a security team separated the two rivals. Rhodes tried to dive over security to no avail, but Styles rattled Rhodes with a Phenomenal Forearm as security tried to hold Rhodes back.
A simple but effective build to Rhodes vs. Styles II. The I Quit stipulation is a great touch that plays into Styles' faux-retirement last week. It's also nice seeing Anderson and Gallows on television in some capacity. Rhodes and Styles' first match at Backlash was a barnburner, but it's clear they held back on some spots. The sequel is equipped with a better storyline and room to produce an even better match. Grade: B+
What else happened on WWE SmackDown?
Sikoa anointed Loa an official member of The Bloodline and promoted Tonga as his "right-hand man."
Kevin Owens and Street Profits ran The Bloodline out of the ring.
Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill def. Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae via pinfall with a wheelbarrow DDT and suplex combination.
Grayson Waller def. Johnny Gargano via pinfall after hitting a flipping killswitch.
Belair and Cargill announced a triple threat women's tag team title match at Clash at the Castle against Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark, and Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn.
LA Knight def. Carmelo Hayes via pinfall by reversing a tights-assisted roll-up. Knight called out United States champion Logan Paul post-match. Paul dismissed Knight as a legitimate challenger in a remote video.
Nia Jax and Michin brawled backstage.
Bayley cut a duelling promo with Piper Niven and Chelsea Green ahead of Bayley and Niven's match at Clash at the Castle.
Owens and Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) def. The Bloodline (Sikoa, Tonga and Loa) via disqualification after Sikoa hit Ford with a chair. The Bloodline put Owens through the announcers' table post-match
Credit : CBS Sports
Friday Night SmackDown is a weekly television show produced by WWE that airs on Friday nights on the FOX network in the United States. The show made its debut on April 29, 1999, and has since become one of the longest-running weekly television shows in history, having aired over 1,100 episodes to date. SmackDown is a two-hour show that features some of the biggest names in WWE, including current and former champions, legends, and up-and-coming stars. Like RAW, the show features a mix of matches, interviews, and backstage segments that help advance ongoing storylines and build towards upcoming pay-per-view events.
Credit : Sportskeeda
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