Cody Rhodes lastly defeated Roman Reigns one 12 months after their first match. (Credit score: WWE/Getty … [+]
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Cody Rhodes, even with the percentages stacked towards him in a Bloodline Guidelines match, defeated Roman Reigns at WWE WrestleMania 40 to win the identical Undisputed Common Championship he failed to say at WrestleMania 39.
In a shenanigans filled-match that featured run-ins from The Rock, John Cena and The Undertaker, Rhodes made—and ended—historical past by defeating Reigns, who had held WWE’s prime title for greater than 1,300 days and was, far and away, the longest-reigning world champion of the fashionable period. He additionally was capable of “end his story” by capturing the identical WWE title his father, the late Dusty Rhodes, by no means did.
And Rhodes did it with loads of obstacles in his approach.
On WrestleMania Saturday, Rhodes and Seth Rollins misplaced to Reigns and The Rock in tag crew motion within the present’s major occasion. In consequence, Rhodes was pressured to face Reigns beneath “Bloodline Guidelines,” primarily WWE’s approach of claiming that something goes in what amounted to a No DQ match or Avenue Combat.
It backfired on Reigns, who misplaced his Common title regardless of assists from Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa and The Rock.
As anticipated, the gang inside Lincoln Monetary Discipline was firmly within the nook of Rhodes, a star whose reputation has skyrocketed a lot over the previous 12 months that The Rock himself referred to as an audible and pulled the plug on Rock vs. Reigns when he realized he was preventing an uphill battle in attempting to be extra widespread than Rhodes.
As nice and as memorable as Reigns’ historic reign had been, nevertheless, there was by no means going to be a better option to dethrone him than Rhodes. “The American Nightmare,” in any case, has emerged as WWE’s prime merchandise vendor and a major draw throughout what has been WWE’s hottest interval in practically three a long time.
The present period, led by Reigns on the heel aspect and Rhodes because the face of WWE, has resulted in crimson sizzling ticket gross sales, blockbuster streaming offers and an total TV product that’s higher than it has been in ages. As a lot as Reigns’ run with the Undisputed Common title wanted to finish in some unspecified time in the future, WWE is clearly taking a danger by taking the title off “The Head of the Desk.”
Reigns has been WWE’s prime world champion for everything of the corporate’s ascension to its best heights in its storied historical past. In fact, Reigns nonetheless figures to be a prime star, and primarily based upon every little thing that transpired throughout each nights of WrestleMania 40, he—and The Bloodline—have many extra tales to inform.
However in some ways, Rhodes as world champion is uncharted territory.
Rhodes has by no means held a world championship in a serious promotion, whether or not WWE or AEW, and conserving the title on Reigns whereas enterprise is booming would have been the protected and simple selection. If anybody can propel WWE ahead into its subsequent part, although, that is Rhodes.
The person who’s change into so widespread that he’s gained two straight Royal Rumbles and major evented three nights of WrestleMania in a two-year span is the only option to hold WWE as this era’s model of Cena, who, satirically sufficient, performed a giant position in Rhodes’ successful the Common title in Philadelphia.
Will it’s straightforward? Not by any means, however Rhodes has confirmed time and time once more that he can rally followers behind him, constantly ship stellar matches and all the time produce participating storylines. He is the best selection at a time when no different babyface is on his stage, and WWE clearly noticed that.
That’s why Rhodes has completed his story and why every little thing suggests his subsequent unforgettable story is just starting.