Cody Rhodes Completes The Story

He won the Royal Rumble in 2023, and it was supposed to be his time at Wrestlemania 39, but it was not. The road was long and winding to get back to Roman Reigns. Cody won the Royal Rumble again in 2024. It was supposed to be him and Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania 40 until The Final Boss, The Rock, entered the mix. It seemed the story would be put on hold until Cody had enough and stepped up at the press conference.

The Bloodline thought it was about them like the nWo thought it was about them in the mid-1990s in WCW. The Rock and Roman Reigns were scheduled, but the fans wanted Cody Rhodes. And that is precisely what they got with a caveat. First, there was going to be a tag team match between The Rock and Roman Reigns on Night 1 against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. The winner would choose the stipulation. It ended up being Bloodline rules.

Even before the match, The Rock and the Bloodline made life hell for Cody. They made him bleed and left him embarrassed heading into Wrestlemania. Even the Final Boss pinned Cody heading into Wrestlemania Sunday. The odds were stacked against the hero.

The match was wild and crazy. Roman Reigns looked overconfident and cocky, as a champion should be. But he underestimated the challenger. Cody Rhodes had the Eye of the Tiger. That is something you can’t teach. When you thought the Bloodline had the upper hand, there was an ally for Cody. Jimmy Uso interfered, and there was Jey Uso. When Solo Sikoa interfered, there was John Cena. The Rock came down to help keep the title; Seth Rollins and the Undertaker were there.

However, Roman Reigns decided to get his revenge on Seth Rollins and hit him with a chair a decade later, leading to Cody Rhodes hitting three CrossRhodes to get the 1, 2, 3 and become the new WWE Champion.

You could see the emotion on his face as his family came down to celebrate. It was the ultimate storybook ending. The wrestlers poured out of the locker room as the Bloodline and Roman Reigns reign was over. This resembles Sting winning the WCW title against Hollywood Hogan in 1997. But the wrestlers and Cody Rhodes celebrated like Bret Hart at Wrestlemania X.

But tonight was the beginning of a new era of pro wrestling with Triple H and Cody Rhodes embracing to close out Wrestlemania 40. Though his story of chasing the title is complete, a new story is beginning for this champion.