WrestleMania 39 Night 2 took place on Sunday, April 2, 2023, featuring high-profile bouts such as Gunther defending his Intercontinental Championship against Sheamus and Drew McIntyre in a Triple Threat, Bianca Belair and Asuka’s match for the Raw Women’s Championship, and Edge vs Finn Bálor in Inferno Cell. However, the main event of the night was Cody Rhodes taking on Roman Reigns for the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship.
The Journey of Cody Rhodes In WWE
Cody Rhodes is no stranger to wrestling fans. The son of wrestling legend Dusty Rhodes has been part of WWE since 2006, initially starting as a backstage announcer. Rhodes had his breakthrough as a wrestler when he became a tag team champion alongside Hardcore Holly. Over the years, Rhodes continued to climb up the ranks and had success in singles competition as well.
However, after being subjected to polarizing reactions in AEW, Cody returned to WWE in 2022 with renewed purpose. He quickly established himself as an alpha option and emerged as one of the company’s top stars. Despite being embraced by WWE’s more cooperative fanbase, Cody faced skepticism from some AEW fans who saw him as betraying his former promotion.
The Road to WrestleMania 39
Cody Rhodes earned his shot at Roman Reigns’ title by winning the Royal Rumble match in January. Ever since then, anticipation had been high among wrestling fans for this clash of two top stars.
Rhodes was applauded by the live crowd despite his loss to Reigns. Solo Sikoa, who had previously been banished from ringside for interference after attacking Cody with a steel chair during their feud earlier this year, snuck back in again wearing a mask to unmask himself and interfere in the match. As a result, Reigns was able to capitalize on Cody’s momentary distraction and deliver a spear for the pinfall victory.
The Legacy of Dusty Rhodes
Cody Rhodes shared what he learned from his father, Dusty Rhodes, about pro wrestling both in his private life and in the ring. He emphasized the importance of striving to make an impact in the community and not engaging in performative behavior that does not align with one’s values. As he recalled, his father was known for slapping someone at a Waffle House who called wrestling fake but also emphasized that such behavior should not be emulated.
WrestleMania 39 Concludes
WrestleMania 39 concluded with a mix of highs and lows. Brock Lesnar vs Omos, Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez vs Natalya & Shotzi vs Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler vs Chelsea Green & Sonya Deville, and country singer Jimmie Allen singing “America the Beautiful” were among the highlights of Night 2. Meanwhile, much like Day 1 before it, incredible storylines featured prominently throughout the night.
With Roman Reigns retaining his title over Cody Rhodes, WWE seems down to continue its bloodline storyline for a while yet. The two-night WrestleMania event took place in SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and was broadcasted on Peacock in the United States, Fox Sports Premium in Mexico, and WWE Network worldwide.
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