The BEST Wrestling Moment Every Year (1989 - 2026)

3. 2024 | Cody Finishes The Story

Roman Reigns Cody Rhodes
WWE

At WrestleMania 40, Cody Rhodes finished the story. 

He returned at WrestleMania 38 and declared his intention to win the title that had eluded his father Dusty Rhodes the very next night. He failed in his quest at WrestleMania 39. This was either an incredible twist, or, depending on the follow-up, a braindead booking decision that heralded the ultra-grim return of Vince McMahon. It had to be Cody. It wasn’t Drew McIntyre who ended the epic Roman Reigns run, and it wasn’t Sami Zayn, so it had to be Cody. It wasn’t Cody. 

In an intoxicating blend of great fiction and disruptive backstage politics, the build to WrestleMania 40 actually deepened the doubt. The Rock’s megalomania versus his desperate need to win over the public was as fascinating a battle as anything Paul Levesque penned himself. 

In the end, after an incredible if very slightly contrived ‘Avengers’-style series of run-ins, Cody won the WWE title. The match was not quite as hypnotic as their WrestleMania 39 masterclass, but the emotion that swept through Philadelphia was as special as pro wrestling gets. 

A babyface on an epic quest got the job done in torturous fashion. It was agonising and ecstatic. It was the sort of high-stakes plot development that WWE had dismally failed to deliver to its fandom for most of the 21st century.

This wasn’t just Cody’s story to finish, nor Cody’s story to celebrate. The phrase took on a meaning that contained multitudes. This was the return to WWE of story itself. 

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick (Creative Writing BA Hons) is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over a decade of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential UK institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!