Roman Reigns against Cody Rhodes was the story of WWE's 2023 and 2024: the dominant 'Tribal Chief' of the Bloodline, champion for more than three and a half years, against the returning star trying to 'finish the story' his father Dusty Rhodes never could by winning the WWE Championship.
They met twice in WrestleMania main events. Reigns won the first in 2023 with help from Solo Sikoa; Rhodes won the second in 2024 in a match with returns from John Cena, The Undertaker and The Rock. Since then they have been allies rather than enemies. This page covers both matches, the build, a comparison and our verdict.
Head-to-head record
Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes: 1–1 at WrestleMania. Every big-event meeting between the two, oldest first.
| # | Date | Event | Venue | Match | Result | How |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apr 2, 2023 | WrestleMania 39 (Night 2) | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California | Undisputed WWE Universal Championship | Roman Reigns won | Spear after Solo Sikoa interfered |
| 2 | Apr 7, 2024 | WrestleMania XL (Night 2) | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | Bloodline Rules · Undisputed WWE Universal Championship | Cody Rhodes won | Three Cross Rhodes |
Every match: our commentary
WrestleMania 39 (Night 2) · Apr 2, 2023
Rhodes won the 2023 Royal Rumble and came to Los Angeles as the overwhelming crowd favorite. He had Reigns beaten more than once, but Solo Sikoa interfered, hit Rhodes with a Samoan Spike and Reigns speared him for the win. The finish was widely criticized and is a big reason the second match landed so hard.
WrestleMania XL (Night 2) · Apr 7, 2024
Under Bloodline Rules, anything went. Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa and The Rock all got involved for Reigns, while John Cena and The Undertaker returned to help Rhodes. With the interference cleared, Rhodes hit three Cross Rhodes to win the title and end Reigns' reign at 1,316 days.
The backstory
Reigns had held the Universal title since August 2020 and the WWE Championship since WrestleMania 38, building the Bloodline storyline into the biggest act in the company. Rhodes had left WWE in 2016, helped found AEW and returned at WrestleMania 38 in 2022.
Rhodes won the Royal Rumble in both 2023 and 2024. In early 2024 WWE briefly pivoted to The Rock facing Reigns instead, and the fan backlash against that change was strong enough that Rhodes was put back into the WrestleMania XL main event, with The Rock joining the Bloodline. The night before their singles rematch, The Rock and Reigns beat Rhodes and Seth Rollins in a tag match that set the stakes for Night 2.
After WrestleMania XL the two men became uneasy allies against Solo Sikoa's new Bloodline, teaming at Bad Blood in October 2024.
Tale of the tape
| Roman Reigns | Cody Rhodes | |
|---|---|---|
| Billed height / weight | 6 ft 3 in · 265 lb | 6 ft 2 in · 220 lb |
| WWE main roster debut | November 2012 (The Shield) | 2007 (first run); returned April 2022 |
| Longest world title reign | 1,316 days (2020–2024) | Undisputed WWE Champion from April 2024 |
| Royal Rumble wins | 2 (2015, 2026) | 2 (2023, 2024) |
| Signature finish | Spear | Cross Rhodes |
| October 2026 | World Heavyweight Champion | Retained vs. Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42 |
By the numbers
| Head-to-head stat | Roman Reigns | Cody Rhodes |
|---|---|---|
| WrestleMania singles wins vs. each other | 1 | 1 |
| Title changes between them | 0 | 1 (WrestleMania XL) |
| Wins with outside help | 1 (WrestleMania 39) | Helped by Cena and The Undertaker at XL |
How fans and critics reacted
WrestleMania 39's finish was one of the most criticized decisions of WWE's recent history: Rhodes had been built as the man to end the reign, and fans and critics widely expected him to win.
The WrestleMania XL win, with Cena and The Undertaker returning, was received as a payoff worth the wait, and Rhodes' celebration with his mother in the ring is the enduring image.
Our take
It is 1–1, so the verdict is about meaning. Rhodes won the match that mattered, ending the longest world title reign in decades, and he did it after losing the first one. We give the rivalry to Rhodes.
Our view: the 2023 loss was the right call in hindsight, because the 2024 win would not have meant half as much without it.
Our verdict: Cody Rhodes.
FAQ
Who won Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 39?
Roman Reigns, after Solo Sikoa interfered, on April 2, 2023 at SoFi Stadium.
When did Cody Rhodes beat Roman Reigns?
At WrestleMania XL Night 2 on April 7, 2024 in Philadelphia, in a Bloodline Rules match, ending Reigns' 1,316-day reign.
Are Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns still rivals?
Not currently. They teamed together against Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu at Bad Blood in October 2024.
More rivalries
Sources: Wikipedia: WrestleMania 39 · Wikipedia: WrestleMania XL · Wikipedia: Bad Blood (2024). Facts verified Oct 18, 2026.