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Details Revealed For Cody Rhodes-Roman Reigns WWE SmackDown Segment

By John Canton • Published 21st September 2024
Cody Rhodes Roman Reigns WWE

The Cody Rhodes-Roman Reigns SmackDown segment from Georgia Tech University was produced by some of the brightest minds in WWE, including a WWE Hall of Famer.

At WWE Bad Blood on October 5th, WWE Champion Cody Rhodes will team up with former WWE Champion Roman Reigns to face off against Roman’s cousins with The Bloodline, Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu.

The September 20th edition of WWE Smackdown featured Rhodes & Reigns in a unique segment that saw them meet at the Georgia Tech University football field known as Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta. Reigns is a proud Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket football player alumni while Rhodes lives in and grew up in the Atlanta area. The significance of Atlanta in this story is that Bad Blood will also take place in Atlanta.

During their discussion that aired on Smackdown, Roman said that Cody is in a lose-lose situation while dealing with people who have nothing to lose. Reigns said that they took Jimmy from him, they took his Wise Man, they took Roman’s Bloodline and they took his Ula Fala. Roman said he had nothing to lose because there was no weight on his neck. Roman said it’s on Cody’s neck because he’s a man with no country.

Cody Rhodes responded by saying he told Roman before WrestleMania the first time that he would be a chief without a tribe. Cody said they took Jimmy, they took your Wise Man, they took the Ula Fala and do you really think you have nothing to lose? Cody told Roman to look around WWE. Cody said that we already have a Tribal Chief and it’s not Reigns. Cody said we have a WWE Champion and it’s not Reigns.

A frustrated Roman asked Cody what did he want? Cody said he wanted his word that Roman would have his back so that Cody could have Roman’s back. Roman said he’ll give him his word. Roman said he’ll have his back. Roman said when it’s all done, he’s taking back what’s his as he stared at the WWE Championship. Roman tried to walk away, but Cody cut him off. Cody said it’s not yours to take. Roman said Cody was in his way, so Cody stepped aside and Roman said: “You’re in my way in life.” That’s when it ended.

The segment was praised heavily for its unique nature while filming these two WWE megastars in an empty football stadium. They used different camera angles, added music and shot it like it was a movie rather than a pro wrestling promo segment.

Who Put The Cody Rhodes-Roman Reigns Segment Together For WWE SmackDown?

It was reported by Mike Johnson of PWInsider that Jeremy Borash, the Senior Director of Content and Development in WWE NXT, was one of the producers of the segment. It was added that “Borash has very much become Paul Levesque’s doyen for on location segments like this.”

Rob Fee, who is WWE’s Director of Character Development, was also on hand for the segment because he has worked closely with Borash on projects and segments similar to that.

In an update on the segment, PWinsider’s Mike Johnson also that the “Wise Man” WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman “was intricately involved in the segment” with Johnson noting that Heyman directed the talent for the scene. Heyman is always heavily involved in Roman Reigns segments, so this was no exception.

There was also a Fightful Select report that credited Borash, Fee, and Heyman for being involved in the segment.

While Roman Reigns did not appear in person at Smackdown, Cody Rhodes did when he saved Kevin Owens from an attack from The Bloodline. It looked like Owens might attack Rhodes with a chair, but that didn’t happen as the show concluded with Rhodes hugging his friend Owens.