The crowd at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles was on the edge of their seats as Roman Reigns defended his WWE Universal Championship against Cody Rhodes, who was looking to capture his first singles title in WWE. The match started with Rhodes relying on his amateur wrestling background and speed advantage to control his powerhouse opponent in the early portion of the match. However, Reigns soon showcased his power by catching Rhodes mid-air off a springboard attack and planting him with a powerbomb.
The action spilled to the outside as each man power-slammed the other on the ramp, and it was at this point that Solo Sikoa, Reigns' cousin, made his presence felt by intercepting Rhodes ringside, allowing Reigns to take over. Sikoa quelled Rhodes' immediate comeback by tripping him against the ropes, and Reigns took advantage by delivering punishing blows to Rhodes.
Rhodes delighted the crowd later in the match by countering the champion and driving him through an announcers' table with a backdrop. From that point on, it was the Rhodes show as he delivered signature moves like the Cody Cutter and a suicide dive that had the crowd roaring with approval. However, Sikoa continued to be an asset to Reigns and a thorn in Rhodes' side, whipping Rhodes with his own weight belt. The referee continued to miss Sikoa's interjections, but assessed the situation and ejected The Bloodline's enforcer from ringside.
An argument between Reigns and the referee primed Rhodes for another comeback. He cracked Reigns with a super kick and landed Cross Rhodes, his finishing move, for a deep two-count. A uranage slam by Reigns and a pedigree from Rhodes both had the referee with his palm inches from a three-count. The big moves only continued from there, with Reigns cold-cocking Rhodes with a nasty-looking Superman punch as Rhodes bounced off the ropes in pursuit of a Disaster Kick.
Rhodes showcased his own savvy counter, sunset flipping over a potential match-ending spear before tying up the champ in a figure four leg lock. Rhodes' indomitable spirit persisted as he kicked out following a piercing spear from Reigns. The challenger's defiance angered "The Tribal Chief" as Reigns began laying in closed-fist punches. Rhodes appeared lifeless trapped in the vice-like squeeze of Reigns' guillotine choke, but he endured and broke free of Reigns' grip.
Rhodes roared to life, punching away at Reigns but accidentally kicking down the referee during his spirited comeback. A double clothesline laid out both combatants and opened the door for shenanigans. The Usos, one night after losing the undisputed tag team championships to Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens, laid out Rhodes with superkicks and a 1D. The crowd popped as loud as had all night when Zayn and Owens arrived to even the odds.
Owens hit Reigns with a stunner and Zayn got a measure of revenge on the champion with a Helluva Kick that sent shockwaves through SoFi Stadium. Rhodes crawled over to Reigns and covered the champion just as the referee recovered. It was a long two-count, one that allowed Reigns to kick out in the nick of time. Rhodes channeled the spirit of his late father, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, clocking Reigns with jabs and a bionic elbow that the live audience greatly appreciated.
Rhodes appeared to have the match won with two consecutive Cross Rhodes, but interferences by Paul Heyman and Sikoa allowed Reigns to hit the match-winning spear. The crowd was stunned as Reigns pinned Rhodes for the win, but it was a truly fantastic outing that had the crowd in the palm of the superstars' hands. Grade: A+
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