Rhodes depended on his amateur wrestling background and speed benefit to handle his powerhouse opponent in the early part of the match. Reigns displayed that power by grabbing Rhodes mid-air off a springboard attack and planting him with a powerbomb. The action took a spill to the outside as both men power-slammed the other on the ramp. Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa made his presence felt for the first time by blocking Cody ringside, letting his cousin Reigns take over. Sikoa quieted Rhodes’ close comeback by misstepping him against the ropes.
Rhodes entertained the crowd later in the match, countering Reigns and pushing him through an announcers’ table with a backdrop. It was the Rhodes show from that moment on as he delivered signature moves like the Cody Cutter and a suicide dive that had the crowd roaring with support.
Sikoa continued to be an aid to Reigns and a thorn in Sikoa’s side, beating Rhodes with his weight belt. The referee continued to miss Sikoa’s interference in the match but considered the situation and ejected The Bloodline’s enforcer from ringside. An argument between Reigns and the referee prepares Rhodes for another comeback. He smashed Reigns with a super kick and hit him with Cross Rhodes, his finishing move, but Reigns kicked out on 2 counts. A uranage slam by Reigns and a pedigree from Rhodes both had the referee with his palm inches from 3 counts.
The big moves only continued from there. Reigns knocked down Rhodes with a jaw-dropping Superman punch as Rhodes jumped off the ropes in search of a Disaster Kick. Rhodes showcased his clever counter, sunset flipping over a possible match-ending spear before hooking up the champ in a figure four leg lock. Rhodes’ unbeatable spirit continued as he kicked out following a sharp spear from Reigns.
The challenger’s opposition angered “The Tribal Chief” as Reigns began laying in closed-fist punches. Rhodes seemed dead trapped in the vice-like squeeze of Reigns’ guillotine choke, but he survived and broke free of Reigns’ grip. Rhodes roared to life, beating away at Reigns but accidentally kicking down the referee during his fiery comeback. A double clothesline laid out both wrestlers and opened the door for mischievous activity.
The Usos, one night after losing their undisputed tag team championships to Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens, knocked down Rhodes with superkicks and a 1D. The crowd popped as loud as had all night when Zayn and Owens came to even the odds. Owens hit Reigns with a stunner and Zayn got a step 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 healed. It was a long two-count, one that allowed Reigns to kick out in the nick of time.
Rhodes conducted the spirit of his late father, “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, knocked down Reigns with jabs and a bionic elbow that the SoFi Stadium audience greatly appreciated. Rhodes seemed to have the match won with two consecutive Cross Rhodes, but interferences by Paul Heyman and Sikoa allowed Reigns to strike the match-winning spear. A truly fantastic outing that had the crowd in the fist of the superstars’ hands. The result of the match degraded expectations and it will be interesting to see where WWE takes this feud from here.
