WWE Hall of Famer says he did not fall for AJ Style's trick on SmackDown (Exclusive)

While AJ Styles' recent retirement speech fooled a number of people in WWE, a particular Hall of Famer apparently did not fall for it. Teddy Long has now explained what gave away the fact that it was all a ploy.

The Phenomenal One tried to make it seem like he was finally hanging up his boots. This led to a moment between Cody Rhodes and him, allowing AJ to attack the American Nightmare. Their feud is set to continue at the Clash at the Castle PLE.

On Sportskeeda's The Wrestling Time Machine hosted by Mac Davis, Bill Apter asked Teddy Long if he fell for AJ's retirement speech.

"I didn't get sucked in at all, okay? Because if he was gonna really retire, it would have been a whole different way. It would have been real. If they were gonna do that for real, that would have been totally different. It would have never went [sic] down like that," Long said. [5:08 onwards]

The WWE Hall of Famer believes Cody Rhodes should not turn heel anytime soon

Veteran journalist Bill Apter recently expressed his thoughts on Cody Rhodes potentially turning heel to attack AJ Styles during the latter's retirement speech. However, Teddy Long thinks it is too early to pull that trigger.

Speaking on the same episode of The Wrestling Time Machine, Teddy Long stated that turning Cody Rhodes's heel at this point does not serve any purpose. He said:

"I don't think you can turn Cody right now. It's too quick. It's too early. You have gotta get some mileage out of him right now. He is your champion," Long noted. [6:28 onwards]

Only time will tell what is next for Cody Rhodes in WWE.

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