WWE Wrestlemania 38 - AT&T Stadium
Cody Rhodes WWE Return - Wrestlemania 38
At the start of the year, Cody Rhodes was competing in a ladder match for the TNT Championship with Sammy Guevara. This match is considered by many as one of the best matches Rhodes had during his time with AEW.
Following the conclusion of this match and the weeks after, speculation started to grow that Rhodes was not signed with AEW and was a free agent. To the surprise of many in the coming months it appeared that himself and Tony Khan could not agree on a new deal.
After months of speculation, it appeared that Cody could have a potential destination in WWE, something unthinkable just 12 months prior. This would then be confirmed at the grandest stage of the all, Wrestlemania.
Seth Rollins seemed to build a match of Wrestlemania caliber and hype without even having an official opponent to exchange promos with. Reiterating the creativity of Rollins as a performer and valued member of the WWE roster.
Rollins stood alone in the ring, awaiting the entrance of his mystery opponent. The lights go out in the stadium with tension and anticipation palpable in the air. A large amount of pyro then followed by "wrestling has more than one royal family". The theme song Kingdom then followed with the logo of the American Nightmare then pinned onto the screen. Something that was a surprise to many as WWE would usually change the identity or image of a wrestler from their independant scene to sports entertainment.
The camera angle cuts to the top of the ramp, with Rhodes appearing from the bottom of the frame to the top to the elation of the crowd, with the spotlight on Rhodes. The reaction from just inside the arena showed the return of a superstar with a new identity, the polar opposite to how he would look when he left the company just 6 years prior.
The return was not just for the return but also for the wrestling match that would take place. The match between Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes would be considered by many by the match of the entire Wrestlemania weekend. A match action packed from start to finish, from two superstars which had chemistry like they had been in the ring many times over the years together.
The match quality was matched by the atmosphere of the crowd at AT&T Stadium, the reaction of those watching at home along with the enthusiasm of the commentary team of Jimmy Smith, Corey Graves and Byron Saxton. A perfectly executed return bringing the Rhodes family name back to its rightful place in WWE.
