Cody Rhodes has finished the story.
WrestleMania XL Night 2 was headlined by Roman Reigns defending his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against the 2024 Royal Rumble winner Rhodes.
Both competitors received special entrances as Rhodes was flanked by his wife Brandi Rhodes, while Reigns had a band on the ramp performing his theme song. They stayed evenly matched early on as Rhodes attempted to introduce a table, but Reigns put a stop to it. They ended up spilling into the crowd where Rhodes suplexed him on a platform.
Later on back in the ring, Reigns hit a Cross Rhodes of his own, but Rhodes kicked out. Reigns went on to low-blow Rhodes outside the ring to set up a powerbomb through the announce desk. Reigns went for a Rock Bottom back inside, but Rhodes rolled through and hit his own Spear for a near fall.
When Rhodes went for a second consecutive Cross Rhodes, Jimmy Uso ran in to hit a superkick. This prompted Jey Uso to come out and spear Jimmy off the ramp and through a pair of tables. Reigns would hit a spear for a near fall, but it wasn’t enough. Soon after, Rhodes speared Reigns into the timekeeper’s area.
Rhodes went for the Cross Rhodes trifecta, but Solo Sikoa showed up to deliver a spike. When Rhodes kicked out of the spear again, John Cena ran down to clothesline Sikoa out and ot hit Reigns with an Attitude Adjustment. Cena then cleared the Spanish announce table and put him through it with an AA.
The Rock’s music hit next. Rock and Cena stood together in the ring once more. Rock hit Cena with a Rock Bottom. The Shield’s theme music hit, but Reigns hit the interfering Seth Rollins with a Superman Punch. Next was The Undertaker’s gong and the crowd truly came unglued. The lights turned back on and Taker was behind Rock to set up for a Chokeslam before he disappeared.
When the lights came back on, Reigns and Rhodes found themselves in the ring with a chair, Rock’s weight belt, and a fallen Rollins. Reigns then decided to strike Rollins in the back with a chair (for payback from years ago). But when Reigns went for a spear, Rhodes countered and hit three Cross Rhodes. Rhodes then pinned Reigns to finish the story.
Referee Charles Robinson handed Rhodes the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship as Brandi entered the ring to help celebrate. They were also joined by Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, Kevin Owens, Randy Orton and LA Knight. CM Punk and Rhodes’ family joined next before Rhodes called out Bruce Prichard and Triple H for hugs and shared words.
Roman’s historic title reign now ends at 1,316 days, after winning the title on August 30, 2020. This was also Reigns’ first singles pinfall loss since December 2019.
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