11 Main Event Mistakes WWE Have Made In 2022
5. Fork In The Rhodes (May 8)
WWE has an infuriating penchant for not striking while the iron is searing.
On WrestleMania 38 Night One, the unthinkable happened. After an acrimonious 2016 exit and six years of rejuvenating his profile, including three as a figurehead of the chief opposition, Cody Rhodes resurfaced in WWE. Following a stellar performance and victory as Seth Rollins mystery opponent, ‘The American Nightmare’ was primed to address his return on RAW the following Monday.
The story was right there.
In his return promo, Cody delivered an impassioned mission statement about fulfilling a destiny 45 years in the making. Despite one of the most decorated careers in professional wrestling history, Dusty Rhodes’ 1977 countout victory over ‘Superstar’ Billy Graham at Madison Square Garden prevented him from ever claiming the WWE Championship. Now the prodigal son had returned at peak popularity to rectify the oversight and finally bring the gold home to the Rhodes family. Naturally, Rollins wasted little time in establishing their WrestleMania Backlash sequel the following week, minus a critical stipulation.
How difficult would a number one contender’s match have been, with the victor challenging Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Hell In A Cell? Even assuming that Cody Rhodes’ eventual torn pectoral was inevitable, parlaying his Backlash victory into the awe-inspiring performance inside the Cell would have emotionally charged a great match with nothing at stake into a legendary contest with everything on the line.
Instead, Cody went up 3-0 on Rollins and Roman took the night off.