2024 has been an important 12 months of Cody Rhodes’ profession thus far, as he climbed to the highest of the mountain to turn into the model new Undisputed WWE Champion, and subsequently the primary babyface of WWE. With most important occasions, main title matches, and successful one of many largest WrestleMania matches in historical past, Rhodes has been very busy.
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Whereas WWE’s product has improved tremendously beneath Triple H, there are nonetheless some matches that turned out unhealthy in 2024.
TheSportster’s score system will check out all Rhodes’ matches in 2024, assessing which of his bouts have been the very best and which have been the weakest. These rankings will likely be in comparison with these from Cagematch.Web and Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer E-newsletter.
11 Cody Rhodes Vs. Grayson Waller (WWE RAW 02/26/2024)
Total Ranking From TheSportster: 5.75/10
Storytelling
1.25/2.5
Technical Potential
1.5/2.5
Character Work/Psychology
1.5/2.5
Crowd Response
1.5/2.5
Dave Meltzer Ranking: N/A Cagematch.web Ranking: 5.52
Essentially the most underwhelming match of Cody Rhodes’ 2024 got here when he took on Grayson Waller on an episode of Monday Night time RAW. Waller might need acquired slightly little bit of offense in right here and there, however this was just about only a glorified squash match. Waller was fodder for Rhodes, he bumped properly, however this had little or no story or character work for essentially the most half, and the viewers weren’t overly invested given how predictable it was.
10 Cody Rhodes Vs. Carmelo Hayes (WWE SmackDown 04/26/2024)
Total Ranking From TheSportster: 6/10
Storytelling
1.25/2.5
Technical Potential
1.75/2.5
Character Work/Psychology
1.25/2.5
Crowd Response
1.75/2.5
Dave Meltzer Ranking: N/A Cagematch.web Ranking: 6.18
Carmelo Hayes acquired a shot at going through Cody Rhodes upon his official most important roster call-up, however as an alternative of a star-making efficiency to indicate followers that he’s right here to remain, this was a rushed match that didn’t permit him to showcase a lot of his skills. Time constraints led to this being a really quick bout, and never sufficient time for them to inform any kind of story. The technical capacity was good for essentially the most half (aside from a really awkward Cody Cutter spot), but it surely was nothing particular.
9 Cody Rhodes Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (WWE RAW 02/05/2024)
Total Ranking From TheSportster: 6.5/10
Storytelling
1.5/2.5
Technical Potential
1.5/2.5
Character Work/Psychology
1.75/2.5
Crowd Response
1.75/2.5
Dave Meltzer Ranking: 3.5 Stars Cagematch.web Ranking: 6.15
The feud between Cody Rhodes and Shinsuke Nakamura culminated in a Bullrope Match, which was a pleasant name again to a match kind utilized by Dusty Rhodes many moons in the past. There have been some first rate spots which consisted of some bodily moments, comedic moments, and extra, however total the execution of the match didn’t do sufficient to get followers overly invested, nor so as to add any kind of doubt into who would win. By this level, followers had seen sufficient of this rivalry, even when the match was pretty first rate.
8 Cody Rhodes Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (WWE RAW 01/08/2024)
Total Ranking From TheSportster: 6.5/10
Storytelling
2/2.5
Technical Potential
1.5/2.5
Character Work/Psychology
1.75/2.5
Crowd Response
1.75/2.5
Dave Meltzer Ranking: 3.5 Stars Cagematch.web Ranking: 6.75
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Here’s a rating of each WWE & AEW PPV up to now. Match high quality, reserving, crowd reactions and different components have been considered.
Cody Rhodes battled Shinsuke Nakamura in a Road Struggle at the beginning of the 12 months, in what was a comparatively enjoyable TV match, however nothing that set the world alight. Nakamura’s heel work matched with Rhodes’ babyface work allowed a superb story to be instructed and a few sturdy psychology to happen, although it have to be mentioned that this did drag on for much too lengthy. Some convoluted moments have been too apparent, and the tempo of the match sucked some vitality out at instances.
7 Males’s Royal Rumble Match (WWE Royal Rumble 2024)
Total Ranking From TheSportster: 6.5/10
Storytelling
1.5/2.5
Technical Potential
2/2.5
Character Work/Psychology
1.5/2.5
Crowd Response
1.5/2.5
Dave Meltzer Ranking: 4.25 Stars Cagematch.web Ranking: 5.82
Cody Rhodes made historical past by changing into simply the fourth man ever to win again to again Royal Rumbles in 2024, although it got here in a Rumble match that gained’t be among the many better of all time. The match was effective, but it surely lacked any distinct construction or thread to make it additional thrilling. There have been only a few memorable moments, surprises, or eliminations, with all the pieces simply being very by the e-book and predictable. The gang was very quiet in comparison with many Rumble matches from earlier years too.
6 Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins Vs. The Rock & Roman Reigns (WWE WrestleMania 40 Saturday)
Total Ranking From TheSportster: 7.25/10
Storytelling
2/2.5
Technical Potential
1.5/2.5
Character Work/Psychology
2/2.5
Crowd Response
1.75/2.5
Dave Meltzer Ranking: 4 Stars Cagematch.web Ranking: 7.34
Night time Certainly one of WrestleMania 40 featured a star-studded lineup as Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins teamed as much as face The Bloodline’s Rock & Roman Reigns. The match had an enormous combat really feel, some first rate brawling, and when the tempo quickened the motion was nice, however the draw back was that the match dragged on for a number of durations. It grew to become one of many longest matches in WrestleMania historical past and it didn’t need to be. Prolonged warmth segments, strolling across the ring, and brawling within the crowd which took too lengthy all led to this match being underwhelming at instances.
5 Cody Rhodes Vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE RAW 02/19/2024)
Total Ranking From TheSportster: 7.5/10
Storytelling
2/2.5
Technical Potential
1.75/2.5
Character Work/Psychology
1.75/2.5
Crowd Response
2/2.5
Dave Meltzer Ranking: 3.75 Stars Cagematch.web Ranking: 7.19
On the Street To WrestleMania 40, each primary contenders for WWE’s two males’s world titles clashed in a singles match on RAW, which resulted in Rhodes’ second pinfall loss since his return two years prior. The gang was into the match even when the motion was stored comparatively easy, with the pair simply providing out their best hits. The storytelling carried the match, with Solo Sikoa’s interference being a powerful reminder of how Rhodes misplaced within the earlier 12 months’s WrestleMania most important occasion.
4 Cody Rhodes Vs. Logan Paul (WWE King & Queen Of The Ring 2024)
Total Ranking From TheSportster: 8.25/10
Storytelling
1.75/2.5
Technical Potential
2/2.5
Character Work/Psychology
2.25/2.5
Crowd Response
2.25/2.5
Dave Meltzer Ranking: 4.25 Stars Cagematch.web Ranking: 8.11
The Undisputed WWE Champion took on america Champion on this enjoyable most important occasion at King & Queen Of The Ring 2024. Paul was as soon as once more a pure in his heel position, doing properly to counter the recognition of the babyface Rhodes with heel techniques, warmth segments, and memorable spots reminiscent of his frog splash by means of the announce desk. The end was weak, which affected the general storytelling facet, however all the pieces that got here earlier than it was incredible.
3 Cody Rhodes Vs. AJ Kinds (WWE Conflict At The Fort 2024)
Total Ranking From TheSportster: 8.25/10
Storytelling
1.75/2.5
Technical Potential
2/2.5
Character Work/Psychology
2/2.5
Crowd Response
2.5/2.5
Dave Meltzer Ranking: N/A Cagematch.web Ranking: 8.23
The feud between Cody Rhodes and AJ Kinds escalated to the purpose the place an “I Give up” match was essential to settle their variations, resulting in a bodily match which featured some good weapon spots, blood, and brawling. The gang beloved each second – even the drawn-out section of Kinds beating down Rhodes, which grew to become slightly bit foolish and excessive in reality. The character work from each males was excellent, including to the depth and violence of the bout.
2 Cody Rhodes Vs. AJ Kinds (WWE Backlash 2024)
Total Ranking From TheSportster: 8.5/10
Storytelling
1.75/2.5
Technical Potential
2.25/2.5
Character Work/Psychology
2/2.5
Crowd Response
2.5/2.5
Dave Meltzer Ranking: 5 Stars Cagematch.web Ranking: 8.62
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WWE followers have been having fun with some superb bouts beneath Triple H’s course. Which have been the very best matches of 2024?
Regardless of this match being predictable, the French crowd at Backlash 2024 made this an instantaneous traditional. The in-ring work was wonderful, the wrestling was fluid, and the ambiance was sensational. Main into the match there wasn’t an excessive amount of story, and within the match itself the storytelling wasn’t the primary focus, because it was carried largely by the insane crowd and the in-ring experience.
1 Cody Rhodes Vs. Roman Reigns (WWE WrestleMania 40)
Total Ranking From TheSportster: 9/10
Storytelling
2.25/2.5
Technical Potential
2/2.5
Character Work/Psychology
2.25/2.5
Crowd Response
2.5/2.5
Dave Meltzer Ranking: 4.75 Stars Cagematch.web Ranking: 9.19
Cody Rhodes’ greatest match in 2024 got here when he took on Roman Reigns in an enormous most important occasion at WrestleMania 40 which had the most important of massive combat feels, an electrical ambiance, and the best stakes. The in-ring work was very sturdy, the strikes all had an additional influence, and all of it completely led as much as an all-time memorable remaining sequence during which main stars from WWE’s previous and current acquired concerned to assist Rhodes win the match and turn into the brand new Undisputed WWE Champion.
