WWE SmackDown video highlights: Cody Rhodes & AJ Styles face-to-face

In front of a red-hot crowd in Lyon, SmackDown took place from France last night.

The episode was the highest-grossing SmackDown in history. It set the stage for Saturday's Backlash premium live event, also being held in Lyon. The main event of the PLE will feature Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles facing off for the first time ever.

Rhodes and Styles met face-to-face last night in advance of their Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match. The confrontation ended with Styles delivering a slap to Rhodes.

At the start of the segment, Rhodes spoke about how he grew up watching Styles and admiring him. Styles took exception to that, believing that Rhodes was actually insulting him. Styles said that, while he may be older than Rhodes, he's still in his prime.

Despite their similarities, Styles said he and Rhodes were never on the same path. Rhodes was immediately accepted into WWE due to being the son of Dusty Rhodes. Cody had legends watching his back at WrestleMania, but Styles was kept out of WWE for years and then had to fight to prove himself when he got there.

Styles vowed to defeat Rhodes at Backlash.

"You see, I'm going to find my way to the top again and remind you and everyone else that I am Phenomenal," Styles said.

Rhodes agreed that Styles will always be Phenomenal, but he wasn't happy with Styles' comments about him.

"Do not disparage my accomplishments in an effort to build yourself up. Every sacrifice I made, every mistake I endured -- and there were many -- to stand here as the WWE Champion," Rhodes said. "And my very first title defense happens to be our very first match. Commentary can call it a dream match. You are and forever will be Phenomenal. But tomorrow I'm not looking at you as Phenomenal, I'm looking at you as my first. And that -- that's Too Sweet."

Styles responded by putting up the Too Sweet hand gesture. Rhodes went to Too Sweet him, but Styles slapped Rhodes in the face instead.

More coverage from last night --

• Three more wrestlers declare for WWE King of the Ring tournament
• WWE to make WrestleMania announcement Saturday
• WWE SmackDown live results: Backlash go-home show

WWE SmackDown video highlights --

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