Cody Rhodes punched his ticket to WrestleMania XL by emerging victorious in the 2024 men’s WWE Royal Rumble Match.
The victory cemented Rhodes as the fourth wrestler to win back-to-back WWE Royal Rumble matches, alongside the likes of Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.
During the post-show media scrum, Rhodes explained how surreal it is for him and CM Punk to be back in WWE following their respective AEW departures.
Rhodes also discussed his aim to challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed Universal Championship at WrestleMania for a second year in a row.
The American Nightmare failed to dethrone The Tribal Chief at WrestleMania 39.
You can check out some highlights from the media scrum below:
On wanting to be back in the ring with Roman Reigns: “All due respect to Seth Rollins, that title gains more prestige everyday, but WrestleMania 39 did happen, and if you’re me, you can’t look at that, you can’t run from it. I don’t know, WrestleMania 40, Monday Night RAW, SummerSlam, Elimination Chamber. I want to be back in the ring with Roman Reigns, and I want to finish the story. I detest the statement now because apparently everybody has a story. Punk wanted a story. Drew’s got a story. Everybody’s got a story. But a big part of me, I’m very big on keeping my word. So if I say something silly in the ring, but it’s a promise, I intend to keep the promise. I don’t know if two times the charm with Roman, we’ll see, but finish the story hopefully by the 2K25, just because I don’t think they will put me on the cover if I don’t get it done.”
On he and CM Punk being back in WWE after leaving AEW: “It’s funny that we meet back here. Really. When we were at AEW, I thought we would encounter one another there, and it didn’t happen for whatever reason. It didn’t happen. But I think both he and I have different personal experiences. Don’t believe anything that Wade Keller put out on why I left, nobody knows. Personal thing. And probably a personal thing for Punk, and that happens, people come and go, it’s not a huge thing. But to see him tonight, and to see Miz, and to see Kofi, those were my guys. The first OVW show I walked into, Brent Albright vs. CM Punk was the main event, and Punk was also running the whole show, he made me setup the ring, and to see that, sometimes you want another person you admire and respect to stop looking at you as the kid and look at you and see who you are now, and I think tonight he got to see who I am now and that means a lot to me. He’s amazing, could have gone either way, I look forward to what he does in WWE.”
Cody Rhodes Secures Spot at WrestleMania XL with Royal Rumble Victory
In a thrilling turn of events, Cody Rhodes emerged victorious in the 2024 men’s WWE Royal Rumble Match, securing his ticket to WrestleMania XL. This remarkable achievement solidified Rhodes as the fourth wrestler in history to win back-to-back WWE Royal Rumble matches, joining the ranks of legendary names such as Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.
During the post-show media scrum, Rhodes expressed his disbelief and excitement at being back in WWE after his departure from AEW (All Elite Wrestling). He mentioned how surreal it felt for him and CM Punk to reunite in the WWE ring following their respective journeys outside the company.
Rhodes also revealed his determination to challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed Universal Championship at WrestleMania for the second consecutive year. Reflecting on his unsuccessful attempt to dethrone “The Tribal Chief” at WrestleMania 39, Rhodes emphasized his desire to finish the story they started.
Acknowledging the growing prestige of the championship, Rhodes stated that he respected Seth Rollins but couldn’t ignore what happened at WrestleMania 39. He expressed his commitment to keeping his promises made in the ring, highlighting his strong belief in fulfilling his word. Rhodes added that he hoped to conclude the storyline with Reigns by WrestleMania 2K25, jokingly mentioning that he might not make it on the cover if he doesn’t accomplish this goal.
In addition to discussing his aspirations for a rematch with Reigns, Rhodes touched upon his reunion with CM Punk and other familiar faces in WWE. He reminisced about their time together in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) and expressed gratitude for Punk’s presence at the event. Rhodes mentioned that seeing Punk and other former colleagues like The Miz and Kofi Kingston meant a lot to him. He appreciated the opportunity for Punk to witness his growth and evolution as a wrestler.
The media scrum provided fans with a glimpse into Rhodes’ mindset and his determination to make his mark in WWE. The video embedded in the article offers further insights into his thoughts and emotions during the post-show press conference.
As WrestleMania XL approaches, fans eagerly anticipate the clash between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns, hoping it will be a fitting conclusion to their compelling storyline. Whether Rhodes can achieve his goal of capturing the Undisputed Universal Championship remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: he is determined to leave a lasting impression on the grandest stage of them all.