Cody Rhodes Chooses Huge WWE Match He Lost As His Favourite
Cody Rhodes made his much-anticipated return from injury at Royal Rumble 2023.
The American Nightmare triumphed in the men’s Royal Rumble match and earned the right to challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 39, night two’s main event. With nearly the entire WWE Universe behind him, Cody Rhodes walked into that bout as the overwhelming fan favorite.
But in dramatic WWE fashion, millions of dreams can be shattered in an instant that night. As the match reached its boiling point, Solo Sikoa interfered and delivered a devastating Samoan Spike to Cody Rhodes, which allowed Reigns to capitalize. That thunderous moment not only ended Rhodes’ championship aspirations but left millions of fans stunned and disappointed.
Despite the setback, Rhodes’ journey didn’t end there. He repeated history by winning the 2024 Royal Rumble and finally dethroning Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40, fulfilling his long-standing quest. Yet, in a recent interview with The Ringer, the former Undisputed WWE Champion revealed that the WrestleMania 39 match, the one he lost, remains his favorite of all.
Why Cody Rhodes Chose WrestleMania 39 Match As His Favorite?
Explaining his choice, Cody Rhodes reflected on the depth of the moment in the ring at ‘Mania 39. He stated that it wasn’t the victory or the championship glory that defined him; it was the unforgettable emotional connection with the fans and the electricity of the moment. WrestleMania 39 may not have brought him the title, but it delivered a memory that will last a lifetime.
“He’s got me in a guillotine choke, and you hear these old-timers—God bless them, I love them—you know, ‘Just stay right there and the people will react.’ When you’ve seen the amount of cool flips and awesome stuff… sometimes that seems like, I don’t know, maybe that’s not real anymore.”
“And then in that moment, I remember I’m just slowly wiggling my head out, and I can hear an entire stadium—where the sound goes up—start to move. And I thought, ‘Oh, man. This… they’re into this. How blessed am I that they’re into this?’ And it just… when it’s that good, it feels completely real.”
“Everything seems real. Roman is the greatest enemy of my life. And I’m trying to climb a mountain that’s impossible to climb. And that, just… acoustic moment for me—it made it my favorite match of all time.” [H/T WrestlePurists on X]
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