Cody Rhodes and Rey Mysterio's simple but satisfying storyline was supported by an equally enjoyable encounter on the 'Grandest Stage' that suffered slightly from having to follow a World Championship match despite only going on second.
Rhodes looked doubly assured as a heel compared to his indifferent display the prior year, whilst Mysterio's aura was protected one more year before the persistently punishing schedule predicated his early-decade decline.
Cody's win stood him in good stead too - the "Smoke And Mirrors" weren't half as needed for the 'Grandson Of A Plumber' as he evolved beyond Legacy into something closer to the performer that later gambled on himself.
Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett
