Top WWE Star Teases Retirement On SmackDown

This major WWE star worked the Mark Henry spot on this week's episode.

by Jamie Kennedy
AJ Styles Cody Rhodes
WWE.com

AJ Styles pulled the old Mark Henry fake retirement spot from his bag of tricks on this week's episode of SmackDown. Not everybody would've been fooled, but the angle did set up a WWE Title rematch vs. Cody Rhodes for Clash At The Castle over in Scotland on 15 June.

Earlier, AJ had asked GM Nick Aldis for time on the mic to disclose something he only wanted to say "once". Aldis gave him the green light, and Styles went on to imply that he should go home to spend more time with his family. The live crowd caught on quick, then AJ's old OC buddies gave him a big farewell.

Advertisement

Cody came out to join the occasion and pay tribute, but he'd been suckered in. AJ smashed Rhodes with a clothesline, then hit a sweet-looking Styles Clash from the ringside steps to the floor. For reference, this isn't the first time AJ has tricked Cody - previously, he also got Rhodes to throw up the Bullet Club horns pre-Backlash.

Styles was even clad in a pastel suit for the occasion. Big Mark would've been proud!

Advertisement
Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.