WrestleMania 39 is firmly in the rearview mirror, and WWE has now transitioned into a new season. The recent draft has shaken things up within the wacky world of professional wrestling, and fans have been treated to a whole host of new storylines. They have even been treated to a new World Heavyweight Championship, with a new champion set to be crowned at the upcoming Night of Champions premium live event in Saudi Arabia.
But there is one storyline that fans have yet to come to terms with, and that is the fact that Roman Reigns is still the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. The Tribal Chief’s reign will tick past 1,000 days on May 27th, the same day as the showdown in Jeddah. Head of Creative within WWE, former world champion Triple H, took a massive gamble when he decided that his champion and top star should retain the gold at WrestleMania 39 inside Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium, much to the dismay of everyone in attendance.
The Head of the Table faced off against 2023 Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes at the marquee event, and fans and bookmakers alike all thought that the American Nightmare would end Roman’s reign of terror and secure his maiden world championship. However, akin to doubling down when playing bitcoin blackjack or any other games, Triple H and WWE committed to the Tribal Chief and his record-breaking reign. Whether the gamble pays off remains to be seen however, one thing that is for certain is that Cody Rhodes is still the one that the fans’ have anointed as their chosen one.
But how does Cody finish his story against Roman? The pair are now on opposing brands and Cody has never looked further away from the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Well, let’s try and map the journey out once and for all.
Cody Vanquishes the Beast at SummerSlam
As if losing to Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania wasn’t enough, Cody Rhodes was in for an almighty shock the following night in the form of Brock Lesnar. The Beast Incarnate was set to team up with the former title challenger, before turning on his should-be teammate and planting him with numerous F5s. That would set up a bout between the pair at the recent Backlash event in Puerto Rico, a battle which Rhodes would win… just.
But Lesnar is far from done with the American Nightmare. On May 8th, the former UFC heavyweight champion cost Cody Rhodes a shot at the newly created World Heavyweight Championship by nailing him with further F5s, and the pair will face off once again in Saudi Arabia, where we feel that Lesnar should get the win. On July 1st, WWE will head to the UK for the Money in the Bank PLE, and the Beast Incarnate will cost Rhodes the match and the Money in the Bank briefcase, setting up one final blockbuster encounter.
That bout will take place at SummerSlam in Detroit on August 5th and Cody will finally end his nightmare once and for all, vanquishing the beast once with a convincing victory.
Coming Face to Face with Roman Reigns at Survivor Series
In the months following SummerSlam, Cody should face off against whoever is crowned as the World Heavyweight Champion. Many consider Seth Rollins as the front-runner for the crown, and he and Rhodes do have previous. They can battle it out for the gold throughout September and October with Rhodes getting screwed out of the title once again, perhaps by another insurmountable monster that he will have to overcome once again.
In November, WWE hosts its Survivor Series PLE. The event sees the company’s two main brands, Raw and SmackDown, face off against each other in traditional five-on-five elimination tag team matches. Cody Rhodes should captain Raw, while Roman Reigns should captain SmackDown, bringing the pair face-to-face for the first time since The Tribal Chief’s victory at Sofi Stadium back in April.
The last man standing for each team should be Rhodes and Reigns. The pair can then go back and forth once again, with it looking like Reigns will repeat the feat and secure another victory. When all hope seems lost, Rhodes can his Cross Roads finisher and secure the pinfall victory, the first pinfall defeat in almost four years for the Head of the Table.
Cody Becomes the First Man to Win Back-to-Back Royal Rumble’s in 26 Years
Following his victory pinfall victory over Reigns at Survivor Series, Rhodes will proclaim that he has Reigns’ number and that Roman knows that his House of Cards is about to crumble. In the build-up to the Royal Rumble, the American Nightmare declares that he will win the Royal Rumble match and when he does, he is coming for Reigns once again.
And that is exactly what happens. Cody Rhodes wins the Royal Rumble match in January 2024, becoming the first man since Stone Cold Steve Austin in 1997 and 1998 to win back-to-back Royal Rumble matches. He enters the match early, perhaps at even number one or number two, and handles all that The Bloodline can throw at him before eventually prevailing and punching his ticket to WrestleMania for the second year running.
WrestleMania 40 takes place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on April 6th and 7th. By the time Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes main event once again on night two, Roman’s reign of terror will stand at a whopping 1,316 days, the fourth longest reign in company history. And it is here, where the reign ends, with Cody Rhodes finally finishing the story and becoming the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
Also read: WWE RAW: Roman Reigns Confronts Cody Rhodes a week before WrestleMania
