The wrestling staff of Back Sports Page have carefully selected what they believe to be the top 41 matches in WrestleMania history. Presented in chronological order, this series will detail the backstory, match review, and aftermath of each match, along with how the outcomes shaped the careers of those involved.
Backstory: Cody Rhodes was growing in popularity as a pro wrestling star. The son of Dusty Rhodes came back from his AEW stint and defeated the likes of Seth Rollins. Along the way, he won the 2023 Royal Rumble, securing his spot at WrestleMania 40. His opponent?
The Head of the Table, Roman Reigns. This was when the Bloodline was running rampant throughout the WWE. Jimmy and Jey Uso were the Undisputed WWE Tag Team champions. However, the group was showing cracks. Sami Zayn turned on the Bloodline by hitting Reigns with a chair at the Royal Rumble. Suddenly, there was concern about the group dissolving. Would it happen in Inglewood?
More importantly, would Rhodes finish the story that his father never completed? Dusty Rhodes never won the WWE Championship during his tenure with the company. In fact, he hadn’t won a major championship during his time with the National Wrestling Alliance. There was more pressure on Cody to finish the story AND end the Bloodline for good.
Match Review: Throughout the match, Roman Reigns looked like he was finished for good. Cross-Rhodes and Figure Four Leg Locks galore, it seemed like the story would be completed. But there was one problem: The Bloodline.
The Usos would interfere, but that wasn’t enough. Here comes Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn on Rhodes’s behalf to even the odds. Surely, this would be the ending he would get, right?
Well, not if Solo Sikoa had anything to say about it. The other Bloodline member finished the challenger with a Samoan Spike, laying the groundwork for Reigns to finish the job. Story incomplete.
The match was a classic example of storytelling that left the viewer on the edge of their seats. The suspense about winning the match kept the vibes at a crescendo.
Could he do it? Would he make his father proud?
It would turn into sheer disappointment, similar to blowing a perfect game by one strike. It also left wrestling fans wanting more. Suddenly, they were more invested in Rhodes’s story than ever. They wanted the American Nightmare to win the WWE Universal Championship.
Aftermath:
- Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns would meet one more time at WrestleMania 40. It was the same stipulations: Rhodes winning the Royal Rumble and the two wrestlers competing for the WWE Championship. This time, the Rock was involved. In fact, it was nearly the Rock vs. Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 before the American Nightmare stepped in and picked Reigns as his opponent. Lo and behold, Rhodes would win the WWE Championship and remain champion to this day.
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