Home Sport Cody Rhodes Beats AJ Styles in I Quit Match, Retains WWE Title at Clash at the Castle

Cody Rhodes Beats AJ Styles in I Quit Match, Retains WWE Title at Clash at the Castle

Sport — 16/06/2024 · 0 Comment

Cody Rhodes defeated AJ Styles in an “I Quit” match at Clash at the Castle on Saturday to retain the undisputed WWE Championship.

Styles gave up while he was handcuffed to the ropes and Rhodes was about to hit him with the steel stairs.

Despite Styles submitting, Rhodes hit him with the steps after the bell anyway in an apparent effort to get back at him for getting in the face of his mother at ringside.

Before Rhodes could make it to the back, he was attacked by Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa of The Bloodline, but Randy Orton and Kevin Owens evened the odds and helped Cody fight them off.

Saturday represented a rematch from Backlash, which saw Cody beat AJ in a hard-fought main event that was arguably among the best matches of the year in WWE thus far.

Styles won a Triple Threat match against Kevin Owens and Rey Mysterio and then took down LA Knight in a singles bout to become No. 1 contender, but he fell short of his goal of becoming a three-time WWE champion.

In the weeks that followed, Styles begged SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis for another title opportunity, noting that he didn’t have much time left in his career at 47 years of age.

When Aldis rejected AJ and essentially told him he had to go to the back of the line, The Phenomenal One concocted a scheme.

Styles appeared to be retiring, as he thanked the fans and noted that it was time for him to step away, but before making it official, he called Rhodes to the ring.

AJ praised Cody and thanked him for a great match at Backlash, while Rhodes expressed his appreciation for him and congratulated him on a great career.

It was at that point that Styles put his master plan into action, as he viciously attacked Rhodes, removing all doubt that his retirement was a ruse.

The following week on SmackDown, The American Nightmare was furious and intent on getting his hands on Styles. Aldis tried to play peacemaker, but AJ was able to get some shots in on Cody.

However, before that, Rhodes agreed to give Styles another title match at Clash at the Castle under the condition that they do battle in an “I Quit” match.

That stipulation proved to work in Rhodes’ favor, as he beat Styles once again to retain the WWE Championship.