Cody Rhodes' 10 Best In-Ring Rivals Post-WWE
3. Kota Ibushi
In the midst of his ruthless rivalry with Kenny Omega, Cody crossed paths with Omega's old tag team partner Kota Ibushi, setting the stage for an epic clash between the two at Wrestle Kingdom 12.
Similar to Omega and Kazuchika Okada, Ibushi never ceases to deliver, regardless of who he's sharing the ring with. His marquee match with Cody wasn't going to be anything less than great no matter what, but The American Nightmare having the standout performance resulted in this being one of the best bouts of the night.
It still felt like Cody was trying to prove to his detractors that he could in fact hang with the best of them, including Ibushi. That was fairly evident when he hit the Golden Star with a Cross Rhodes off the ring apron and down onto the floor. When that wasn't enough to beat Ibushi, Rhodes looked like a man possessed.
Everything from the action to the sense of urgency that these two worked with to the electric atmosphere made this match a real treat. Following Ibushi's victory, they went on to face each other another two times at Wrestling Dontaku (where Cody won) and in a three-way also involving Omega at King of Pro Wrestling.
It's a shame Ibushi signed full-time with New Japan Pro Wrestling, as it will be a while before we can see them do battle again.