Cody Rhodes: 10 Legacy Moments In AEW
3. TNT Title - Ladder Match
In what turned out to be Cody’s last involvement with AEW, Rhodes played his part in enhancing the credentials of one of AEW’s four pillars and participated in one of AEW’s finest televised matches.
Rhodes defeated Guevara for the title at the Rampage Holiday Bash on Christmas Day in order to become a three-time TNT Champion, yet his reign would be remembered for him having to forfeit the title ahead of the eventual rematch. Initially set for Battle of the Belts, Cody and Sammy’s rematch for the TNT Title was disrupted due to Covid-19. Tony Khan got around this bump in the road by holding up the title and having Sammy face Cody’s brother Dustin in an interim title match ahead of Cody’s return to action.
The Spanish God picked up the win and the two belts leading to an undisputed title match with Cody down the line. In scenes reminiscent of Wrestlemania X, the TNT title match became a ladder match with both titles suspended above the ring on the Beach Break episode of Dynamite.
The match has gone down as one of Cody’s best in his AEW run featuring some of the most innovative and creative ladder spots in wrestling history. Evoking memories of Shawn and Razor, the two took it to the limits when it came to risk taking. Featuring a delayed suplex off a ladder, a mid ladder Cross-Rhodes and the most outrageous ladder to ladder cutter, this is a match that will go down as one of not just Rhodes’, but also AEW’s best of all time.