Cody Rhodes emerged victorious over Roman Reigns at WrestleMania XL, securing the championship title and establishing himself as a dominant force within the company. His success continued at WWE Backlash, where he faced off against AJ Styles in a thrilling main event showdown. The match was a display of hard-hitting action and high-flying maneuvers, with both competitors leaving it all in the ring. Ultimately, Rhodes showcased his exceptional wrestling skills by defeating Styles with his signature move, the Cross Rhodes.
By triumphing over Styles, Rhodes achieved more than just a victory; he also managed to shatter a peculiar streak previously held by Roman Reigns during his championship reign. Reigns had a history of matches where interference played a pivotal role in the outcome, a streak that remained unbroken until June 17, 2022 when he cleanly defeated Matt Riddle on SmackDown.
Cody Rhodes (Via WWE/Twitter)
The involvement of The Bloodline members had become a common practice to ensure Reigns retained his title, raising questions about his reign’s legitimacy without such assistance.
Rhodes’ match against Styles marked a stark contrast as it unfolded without any external interference, allowing Rhodes to end Reigns’ streak a mere month into his championship reign. However, amidst his success, Rhodes must remain vigilant as a new threat emerges on WWE SmackDown in the absence of Roman Reigns. Solo Sikoa has risen to prominence, assuming the role of the new Tribal Chief and assembling a formidable alliance with Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa. With notable wrestlers like Randy Orton, Jimmy Uso, and Kevin Owens already falling victim to their dominance, Sikoa’s sights may soon turn towards challenging the reigning champion, Cody Rhodes.
