Roman Reigns Beats Cody, Shatters American Dream at WWE WrestleMania 39

The greatest title run of the modern era continues as Roman Reigns defeated Cody Rhodes and retained the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in the main event on night 2 of WWE WrestleMania 39.

Storyline

The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes returned at WWE Royal Rumble 2023 at number 30. He won the match and got a chance to realize his father’s dream, which is to win a World Championship in WWE. Royal Rumble win earned him an opportunity to face the Tribal Chief Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in the main event of WWE WrestleMania 39. 

Both Roman Reigns and his Wiseman Paul Heyman tried to play mind games with Cody. Heyman even stated that Roman is the son his father always wanted. Roman went on to say that he would teach Cody the things his father didn’t teach him. Both these men have been involved in several intense promos during the build to this match where Cody maintained that losing is not an option for him at WrestleMania.

Live Update

The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes is the first one to make his entrance and gets a massive pop from the crowd. He kisses his wife, and meets his daughter, mother, sister, and gives his belt to the son of the late Luke Harper in the audience before he enters the ring. Several pianists are at the ramp performing Roman Reigns’ theme. They stop and the music finally hits and then the Tribal Chief Roman Reigns walks down the aisle along with the Wiseman Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa. 

The crowd starts chanting “Cody, Cody” even before the match begins. Roman Reigns takes the mic and announce “WrestleMania, acknowledge me.” The bell rings and Roman & Cody stare at each other before Roman gives him a smile. They lock hands as Cody locks Roman’s hand and he grabs the rope. The two lock hands again, Cody puts him in a neck lock, Roman picks him up, and Cody rolls through and continues the lock. Roman overpowers him and sends him to the rope before Cody drops down and slaps Roman. 

The Tribal Chief goes outside, gets some words of encouragement from Paul Heyman, and gets back inside the ring. He hits Cody with a shoulder before taking him to the corner and hits him several times. Cody counters his next move with a drop kick and then begins to work on Roman arms. 

Cody goes for the disaster kick, but Roman catches him and hit the powerbomb. Roman covers, but Cody kicks out. Roman hits him suplex and then covers again, but Cody kicks out at one. It is followed by another suplex which tosses Cody across the ring. Reigns then sends Cody outside the ring, but Cody hangs on the rope, comes back inside, and sends Roman outside. He tries to hit Roman with a kick, but Roman blocks him and makes him fall face-first on the apron. 

Roman punishes Cody outside the ring and hits him with the suplex on the ramp. Roman goes for another one, but Cody counters it and hits a suplex of his own on the ramp. Cody face-first Roman on the apron, breaks the count, comes outside, and sends Roman inside. When the referee was checking on Roman, Solo Sikoa hits him with the steel chair.

Reigns takes Cody back inside and covers him for a two-count. Roman puts Cody in a neck lock, Cody fights back, but Solo gets involved again, which allows Roman to hit Cody with a lariat. Roman sends Cody to the turnbuckle and then sends him outside the ring. The Tribal Chief clears the announcement table. He tries to hit Cody with the powerbomb through the table, but Cody counters it with a back body drop and sends Roman through the table. Cody breaks the count and then comes outside to take Roman inside. 

Cody picks up the momentum and hits Roman with a scoop slam followed by a Cody cutter. He covers the champ, but Roman kicks out at two. Cody stomps Roman, and the latter ducks out of the ring. Cody follows him outside with a suicide dive. When Cody was on the apron getting back inside, Solo hits him with the white belt. The referee hears the sound and sends Solo Sikoa back. Roman picks up the same white belt but the official takes it from him. Cody hits him with the superkick followed by a Crossrhodes for a near fall.

Roman fights back with elbows to the back of his neck. Roman hits Cody with the Rockbottom but Cody kicks out of it as well. Roman measures Cody for a superman punch, but Cody catches him and hit the pedigree. Cody covers, but Roman kicks out. Cody is fired up, and he goes for the disaster kick, but Roman gets him with the superman punch for another near fall. Roman is in disbelief as he measures Cody for a spear, but Cody dodges it and rolls Roman. Cody puts him in a figure-four lock as soon as Roman kicks out. Roman reverses the lock, and then Cody grabs the rope. 

Cody goes on the apron and trades strikes with Roman who is inside the ring. Cody gets on the top rope, but Roman ducks before Cody attacks, and then catches him with a spear. However, it was also not enough to put Cody down as he kicks out again. After hitting Cody with some punches, Roman locks the Guillotine in the middle of the ring. 

Roman wraps his legs and puts on more pressure. Cody breaks the lock as he slips his head outside Roman’s arm. Cody unintentionally takes out the referee before Roman hits him with the superman punch and then both of them hit each other with the clothesline at the same time. Cody gets back to his feet first and was about to hit the Crossrhodes, before the Usos come and hit Cody with the superkicks followed by the 1D. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn come to the aid of Cody Rhodes and fight off the Usos. Kevin Owens hits Roman Reigns with the stunner followed by a Helluva Kick from Sami Zayn. 

Cody somehow covers Roman, but the champ kicks out again. Both these men are on their knees and trade strikes before they get up and hits each other with back-and-forth punches. Roman goes for the superman punch, but Cody hits him with the left jab of his father followed by the bionic elbow. Cody Rhodes hits Roman with two consecutive Crossrhodes. He was about to hit the third one when Paul Heyman distracts the referee, and Solo Sikoa sneaks into the ring and hit Cody with the Samoan Spike. It allows Roman to hit Cody Rhodes with another spear to get the pinfall.