Cody Rhodes retains his WWE Title against 4-time champion in a big gimmick match after SmackDown goes off the air
After WWE SmackDown went off the air last night, Cody Rhodes defended his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in a massive Steel Cage Match. The American Nightmare locked horns with a one-time NXT Champion, a two-time North American Champion, and a one-time Cruiserweight Champion, Carmelo Hayes.
The 30-year-old rising star and Rhodes have faced off once on live television. They battled in a singles match on Night One of the 2024 WWE Draft. This was Hayes' official debut match as a member of the main roster, but unfortunately, he was defeated by The American Nightmare.
Both men are currently embroiled in separate feuds: Carmelo Hayes with Andrade and Rhodes with The Bloodline. After the September 20, 2024, episode of Friday Night SmackDown went off the air, The American Nightmare and Melo faced each other for the Undisputed WWE Championship inside a steel cage.
Cody Rhodes successfully defended his title against the former NXT star. Rhodes' victory comes ahead of his highly anticipated tag team match at Bad Blood, where he will join forces with Roman Reigns to face Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa.
Former WWE employee explains why Cody Rhodes is facing pressure to contribute to the company's success
Pro wrestling veteran Dutch Mantell recently shared his thoughts on why The American Nightmare was facing difficulty in delivering results for the Sports Entertainment juggernaut.
Speaking on Sportskeeda Wrestling's Smack Talk, the former WWE manager noted that Cody Rhodes' confidence in his abilities came across as genuine and not arrogant, unlike some other wrestlers.
Dutch Mantell praised the 39-year-old's track record as the face of the company but also pointed out that the reigning champion hadn't yet established himself as a dominant force like Roman Reigns.
"He doesn't deliver that in a cocky manner. He delivers it as a matter of fact, and you kinda believe him. He's been at the top of WWE for three years, at least. He's produced fantastic results. Now, Cody's the one who's on the hot seat. He hasn't established himself like Roman Reigns has," the veteran said.
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Last night on SmackDown, Cody and Roman had an intense confrontation. During the segment, The OTC vowed to pursue the Undisputed WWE Title after he was done with The Bloodline.
Will we witness a third showdown between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes in the coming months? Only time will tell.