Wrestlemania 39 main event build got a major boost on this week’s WWE Smackdown when the two participants finally came face-to-face. In an earlier announced segment, the two already hyped up the episode. Then the two confronted each other in the opening segment and took multiple digs at each other.
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns kicked off WWE SmackDown along with Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa, and Paul Heyman and told Washington, DC to acknowledge him. The 2023 Men’s Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes was quick to come out and mention that he just wanted to talk to him and there was no need for everyone else to be there unless Roman feels he needed them to be there. Roman then sent The Bloodline members back to the locker room to have a man-to-man conversation.
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Roman dropped the titles on the mat and asked Rhodes what he wanted to talk about. The American Nightmare didn’t hold back and started by referencing the hurdles he faced in his career. Rhodes talked about his Stardust gimmick and then noted that nobody believed in him when he told himself and his wrestling buddies to sell out a pay-per-view event independent of WWE’s control.
Cody Rhodes referred to infamous All in Show on WWE Smackdown
Rhodes was actually referring to the path-breaking All In indie show on WWE Smackdown which eventually gave birth to the All Elite Wrestling promotion,
“There’s no way that 10,000 people would pay to see me and my buddies’ little indie show. And ever since then, the goalposts have continuously moved, and I continuously punched it through the uprights.”
It’s worth noting that after departing WWE in 2016, Rhodes wrestled all over the indies and other companies, including New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Impact Wrestling, and Ring of Honor. Then in January 2019, AEW came to light with him being one of the Executive Vice Presidents alongside Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks.
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But then Rhodes would make his return to WWE at WrestleMania 38 last March to be a prominent figure on the programming. Last night’s WWE Smackdown appearance was his first show-up on a Friday night during this ongoing stint.
The segment between Roman and Rhodes on WWE Smackdown ended with a handshake where the latter wished that may the better man win at Wrestlemania. But prior to that, Rhodes also vowed to take the title away from Reigns to end his title reign, no matter what.
