5 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (19 July - Results & Review)

3. Cody Rhodes References History

Cody Rhodes WWE
WWE.com

Cody's opening promo was a vehicle for two things. One, kill time for A-Town Down Under's ambush to set up the main event tag later on. Two, shine a spotlight on boxer Terence Crawford at ringside. He handed Cody a steel chair so he could fend off the heels. Apparently, nobody wanted to take an uppercut. Shame.

The opening speech from Rhodes was all functional stuff, but it did include one gem: Cody mentioned that he previously looked Solo Sikoa in the eye before WrestleMania 39 in 2023 and told him he wasn't ready. Then, Solo was a difference maker in helping Roman retain vs. Rhodes on the big night.

Fast forward to today, and Sikoa is about to challenge Cody for the gold. This guy always appreciates it when WWE acknowledges the past. That's even true when it's the recent past. The company produces so much content that April 2023 feels like a lifetime ago, so it's nice Triple H didn't forget some history between current title foes.

Cody's promo was worth it for that bit alone.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.