Cody Rhodes defeated AJ Styles in WWE Backlash France and cemented his place as a dominant champion. His moment was to be short-lived, however, as a new challenger was quickly revealed in the latest Friday Night SmackDown at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
The show opened with WWE General Manager Nick Aldis in the ring. He was here to welcome to the many great fans in attendance Rhodes. Amidst cheers, Aldis told them that Rhodes would be defending his title in short order at the prestigious WWE King and Queen of the Ring event in Saudi Arabia.
Paul Challenges Rhodes
There was a champing at the bit anticipation in the air as the announcement was made who Rhodes' next challenger would be. Aldis, of course, was none other than the WWE United States Champion Logan Paul.
The crowd seemed to come alive as Paul entered the ring to stand face-to-face with Rhodes. Paul wasted no time and went directly into the trash talk, boasting about his ability in the ring and victory at the Royal Rumble in 2023, along with some memorable events at WrestleMania 40.
He further excited recent collaborations by the notice that he had sponsored the show from his brand, PRIME, along with other key appearances, including celebrities such as Ricochet and IShowSpeed. Rhodes was in no way impressed by Paul's bravado, though; he returned with cautious confidence.
Although Rhodes paid tribute to Paul's abilities, he attacked his rival's ego and his tactics, whom he accused of dirty ways, and declared that he would prove real championship prowess at the King and Queen of the Ring. The confrontation makes the perfect setup for a meeting that promises to be riveting, setting two of the top-tier champions in a battle of champions with different styles and fan bases.
As the WWE Universe gears up for the event in Saudi Arabia, there still looms the big question: who will be the better champion in this high-octane, high-voltage, once-in-a-lifetime matchup? The fans around the world now await a battle between Cody Rhodes and Logan Paul, which promises to be epic.