Cody Rhodes defeated Roman Reigns to win the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 40 (Night Two).
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that the victory cements Rhodes as the only wrestler in history to have held the WWE, NWA, and ROH World Championships.
The only wrestlers to hold both the NWA and WWE Titles include Rhodes, Ric Flair, Buddy Rogers, and AJ Styles.
Styles is also the only wrestler to have held the WWE, IWGP, and NWA World Titles.
Drew McIntyre became the WWE World Heavyweight Champion at WrestleMania, but his reign lasted a good nine minutes as Damian Priest cashed in his Money in the Bank contract to win the title.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter has also shared an interesting trivia note regarding McIntyre’s five world title wins across multiple promotions.
McIntyre’s two WWE Title reigns occurred during the pandemic when the company held shows in empty arenas and the Thunderdome, which means nobody paid to see him defend the title.
McIntyre didn’t hold the WWE World Heavyweight Title long enough to defend it at a weekly show or pay-per-view event.
When Drew held the Impact World Title in 2016 and 2017, the shows were taped at Universal Studios in Orlando, which were free.
In a historic moment at WrestleMania 40, Cody Rhodes emerged victorious over Roman Reigns to become the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. This win solidifies Rhodes’ place in wrestling history as the only wrestler to have held the WWE, NWA, and ROH World Championships.
According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Rhodes joins an elite group of wrestlers who have held both the NWA and WWE Titles. This exclusive list includes legendary names such as Ric Flair, Buddy Rogers, and AJ Styles. However, Styles stands alone as the only wrestler to have held the WWE, IWGP, and NWA World Titles.
While Drew McIntyre also had a significant moment at WrestleMania, becoming the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, his reign was short-lived. Just nine minutes after capturing the title, Damian Priest cashed in his Money in the Bank contract to dethrone McIntyre.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter also shared an intriguing trivia note about McIntyre’s world title wins across multiple promotions. It is worth noting that McIntyre’s two WWE Title reigns occurred during the pandemic when shows were held in empty arenas and the Thunderdome. This means that nobody paid to see him defend the title, and he didn’t have the opportunity to showcase his reign at a weekly show or pay-per-view event.
Additionally, during McIntyre’s tenure as the Impact World Champion in 2016 and 2017, the shows were taped at Universal Studios in Orlando, which were free for spectators. This further highlights the unique circumstances surrounding McIntyre’s world title victories.
As the wrestling landscape continues to evolve, these achievements by Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre serve as reminders of the rich history and diverse paths that wrestlers take to reach the pinnacle of their careers.