Orlando, Florida – Cody Rhodes achieved a significant milestone at WrestleMania 40 by defeating Roman Reigns to claim the undisputed WWE universal championship. With the support of Jey Uso, Seth Rollins, John Cena, and The Undertaker, Rhodes emerged victorious in a hard-fought battle that marked the culmination of his journey.
Having left WWE in 2016 to carve his path in the independent wrestling scene and co-create All Elite Wrestling, Rhodes returned to WrestleMania 38 with a singular goal in mind – to win the world championship that his iconic father, “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, had not secured in his career. Despite facing the daunting “Bloodline Rules” stipulation, which allowed Reigns’ faction to interfere without consequences, Rhodes had a formidable alliance of allies to counter any adversities.
After falling short in his initial bid to settle the score with Reigns at WrestleMania 39, Rhodes persevered and secured his second opportunity by winning the Royal Rumble, ultimately dethroning Reigns after a reign of 1,317 days. The epic showdown between Rhodes and Reigns captivated fans worldwide during the electrifying Night 2 of WrestleMania 40.
The card for WrestleMania 40’s Night 2 featured thrilling matchups, including Bayley’s victory over Iyo Sky for the WWE Women’s Championship, Logan Paul retaining the United States Championship against Randy Orton and Kevin Owens, Drew McIntyre reclaiming the World Heavyweight Championship from Seth Rollins, and Damian Priest’s Money in the Bank cash-in to overcome McIntyre.
The event also showcased other exciting battles such as LA Knight’s triumph over AJ Styles, Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits’ impressive win against The Final Testament (Karrion Kross & Authors of Pain) in a Philadelphia Street Fight. WrestleMania 40 left a lasting impact on the world of professional wrestling, with Cody Rhodes’s triumph standing out as a defining moment in his career.