Veteran says WWE secretly gave away its big long-term plan for AJ Styles on SmackDown (Exclusive)

Ahead of a high-profile world title showdown at Backlash, AJ Styles and Cody Rhodes exchanged words on this week's SmackDown. Dutch Mantell observed that Styles seemed more like a babyface, potentially hinting at his long-term role in WWE.

Styles became the number one contender for Cody Rhodes' title after defeating LA Knight, and he opened the latest SmackDown in a segment with the American Nightmare.

Despite being a heel on paper, AJ Styles' comments leaned towards what babyfaces normally say as he admitted to having respect for Cody Rhodes and his father.

Styles and Rhodes also shook hands, and while reacting to the angle on the latest edition of Sportskeeda Wrestling's Smack Talk, Dutch Mantell believed WWE was deliberately trying to change AJ's character. Mantell felt WWE's goal should be to use Styles and get other heels over on the roster.

"They shook hands again? What is this a 'shake hands' show? Nope, he didn't at all [say anything that a heel would]. He didn't get the people going against him or anything, and I'm sure that's on purpose. They told him to stay that way. So, they must have plans for him with some of these other heels because they need him to get some of these other heels over after he has been there for 8 or 10 years. So that's his job." [From 44:50 onwards]

Dutch Mantell was confident Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles would put on a good match at WWE Backlash. He also predicted that the champion and challenger would be given 16-17 minutes to tell their story in the ring, at the end of which Rhodes is the favorite to retain the championship.

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Please credit Smack Talk and give an H/T to Sportskeeda for the transcription.