Stephanie McMahon comes out, speaks to the crowd about how special WrestleMania is, with WrestleMania 40 is the one she’s most proud of as it’s the first WrestleMania of the “Paul Levesque” era. She asks Philadelphia “Are You Ready?” and introduces Night 2 of WrestleMania 40.
- WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Drew McIntyre def. Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) to become new World Heavyweight Champion
After match: Rollins postures to McIntyre, saying he respects the new champion’s win. McIntyre goes to ringside and shares a moment with his wife. McIntyre then walks over to the announce desk and stares down CM Punk. McIntyre menaces Punk as he climbs across the desk. Punk applauds sarcastically. Punk and McIntyre trash talk each other. Punk tosses McIntyre onto the table and then attacks McIntyre with his arm brace. Punk kicks the crap out of McIntyre. Damian Priest runs down to the ring with his Money In The Bank Briefcase. Priest says he’s cashing in and the announcement is made.
- WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Damian Preist def. Drew McIntyre (c) to become new World Heavyweight Champion
- PHILADELPHIA STREET FIGHT SIX-MAN TAG TEAM MATCH – Special Guest Referee Bubba Ray Dudley
The Pride’s Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) def. Final Testament’s Karrion Kross & AOP (Akam & Rezar)
- UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP
Logan Paul (c) def. Randy Orton and Kevin Owens
- WWE WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Bayley def. Iyo Sky (c) to become new WWE Women’s Champion
Cody Rhodes’ entrance was nothing short of a spectacle during Night 2 of WWE WrestleMania 40. Rhodes entered the “Show of Shows” for his second stab at Roman Reigns’ Undisputed Universal Championship donning a skull mask akin to his idol-turned-boss Triple H in his signature “Cody-Vator”, flanked by his wife Brandi Rhodes for the first time since returning to WWE. The titantron showed the “American Nightmare” flags flying surrounded by flame, selling the idea that tonight will mark his last stand against Reigns. And Rhodes himself was so overcome with emotion he struggled to sing along to his them per usual practice.
At ringside, Rhodes went over to his mom and sister who stood with Brodie Lee’s son, all watching on as he looks to finally finish the story.
- UNDISPUTED WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Cody Rhodes def. Roman Reigns (c) to become new Undisputed WWE Universal Champion
Cody Finished his story
The two men stare each other down. They circle each other. Rhodes tries to take Roman down but Roman fights him off. Cody out-wrestles Roman again, who smacks Rhodes to knock him off his game. Reigns floors Cody with a shoulder tackle.
They circle each other. They lock up. Roman sends Cody off the ropes. Cody hits gut kick and a right hand to the ear. Cody sends Roman into the ringpost. Roman retreats to ringside. Cody goes under the ring and gets a table. Roman hits Cody with a Drive-By Dropkick out of nowhere. Reigns puts the table back under the ring, much to the crowd’s chagrin. Cody sends Roman into the steel steps. Rhodes throws Reigns back in the ring. Roman immediately retreats to ringside. Cody drags Roman but Reigns hits Cody with a Kendo Stick. Reigns pummels Rhodes with the Kendo Stick. Roman plays to the crowd. Roman winds up but Cody counters. Reigns dodges a Kendo Stick shot and the stick is sent out of the ring. Rhodes takes down Reigns and locks in a Figure Four Leglock. Reigns fights out. Reigns stomps away on Cody.
Roman smashes Cody into the turnbuckle, then into another turnbuckle. Reigns tosses Rhodes out of the ring.
“I’m gonna miss whupping your ass,” Roman yells as he fights Cody into the crowd. Reigns takes Rhodes onto a platform. Cody counters a suplex attempt. Reigns tries to batter Rhodes, but Rhodes suplexes Reigns onto the platform. Cody takes Reigns back to ringside. Rhodes throws Reigns back in the ring. Reigns counters a Springboard Roundhouse with a Sitout Last Ride Powerbomb. Both men are down.
Roman recovers and chokes Rhodes on the ropes.
“I’ll send you to Hollywood like the rest of them, this is my company you little b***h,” Reigns chides as he continues the assault. Reigns gets a nearfall on Rhodes. Reigns locks in a Cravate. Cody fights out of the Cravate. Reigns hits a big Fisherman’s Suplex for a nearfall. Reigns corners Rhodes and starts knocking him around the ring with powerful punches and lariats. Rhodes fires up and delivers a series of quick strikes. Both men trade blows and drop the other. Both men are down.
They struggle to their feet. They resume trading blows. Cody comes back with a series of strikes and delivers a swift Powerslam. Rhodes hits a Springboard Roundhouse for a nearfall. Reigns counters a Cody Cutter with a Cross Rhodes and covers for a nearfall. Reigns and Heyman joke about how Reigns could kick Cody’s ass forever. Reigns is having a very good time.
Reigns signals for a Superman Punch. Cody counters with punches and a Bionic Elbow, in tribute to Dusty Rhodes. Cody signals to his father in heaven, as Reigns escapes the ring. Cody gives chase and clears off the announce table. Reigns recovers and punches Cody in the scrotum. Reigns powerbomb Cody through the announce table. Reigns throws Cody in the ring and hits a Superman Punch. Reigns covers for a nearfall. Reigns signals for a spear but Cody counters and hits a Cody Cutter. Cody crawls into a pinfall but Reigns kicks out at 2. Reigns fights out of a Cross Rhodes attempt. Reigns goes for a Rock Bottom but Cody counters. Cody hits a Spear and covers for a nearfall.
Cody hits Cross Rhodes. Cody goes for a second but Jimmy Uso appears out of nowhere and Superkicks Rhodes. Jimmy sets up Cody and Reigns hits a Superman Punch. Jey Uso’s music plays. Jimmy and Jey brawl on the outside. Jey spears Jimmy off the stage and through some tables. In the ring, Cody rolls up Roman for a nearfall. Roman hits a Spear for a nearfall.
Roman Reigns locks in a Guillotine Choke. Rhodes sends them both out of the ring, breaking the Guillotine. Cody recovers and spears Roman Reigns through the barricade. Rhodes gets Reigns back in the ring. Cody hits Cross Rhodes. Cody hits a second Cross Rhodes. Cody goes for a third. Solo Sikoa appears out of nowhere and jams his thumb in Cody’s throat. Solo covers Cody with an unconscious Reigns. Cody kicks out at 2. Solo pummels Rhodes. Reigns struggles to his feet. Roman spears Rhodes as Sikoa hits a Samoan Spike. Reigns covers. Cody kicks out at 2.99.
John Cena’s music hits. Cena appears and attacks Sikoa. Sikoa is sent out of the ring. Cena hits Reigns with an Attitude Adjustment. Cena hits Sikoa with an Attitude Adjustment through the announce table. The Rock’s music hits. The Rock appears. The Rock and Cena face off in the ring. Cena removes his shirt. They soak in the moment. Cena says “You can’t see me.” Rock hits Cena with a Rock Bottom. The Sheild music hits. Seth Rollins appears -in full Shield gear- with a chair but Roman Reigns hits him with a Superman Punch to stop him. The Undertaker’s music hits. The lights go out. Lights up, Biker Undertaker appears behind The Rock. Undertaker chokeslams The Rock. Lights go out. Lights come back up. He’s gone.
Reigns and Rhodes fight to their feet. Reigns grabs a chair. He wails on Seth Rollins, like Rollins did to Reigns 10 years ago. Cody hits Cross Rhodes. Cody hits a second Cross Rhodes. Cody struggles for a third. Cody hits Cross Rhodes for the pinfall.
WINNER AND NEW UNDISPUTED WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION: Cody Rhodes
An emotional Cody Rhodes is handed the title, just as “My father said, when I was younger, Hard Times make better men.” The Rock looks furious at Reigns. Rhodes is overcome as he poses with the title for the fans. Kevin Owens, LA Knight, John Cena, Randy Orton, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn and Brandi Rhodes celebrate with Cody in the ring. CM Punk comes to the ring to raise Rhodes hand. Rhodes’s mother gets in the ring and hugs her son. Cody hands his mother the title and she poses with the title.
Cody grabs a microphone. Cody asks Bruce Prichard and Paul Levesque to join him in the ring. Prichard and Levesque both go to the ring. Prichard hugs Rhodes. Levesque shakes Rhodes’s hand and hugs him. The two men share a moment. Levesque raises Rhodes’s hand. More celebrations follow. Cody gets out of the ring and hugs Michael Cole. Cody shakes Corey Graves and Pat McAfee’s hands. Cody shakes Seth Rollins’s hand and thanks him for helping him. Cody gets out of the ring and shakes Nick Khan’s hand.
Match transcript from Wrestling Inc.
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