Cody Rhodes wins second straight WWE men’s Royal Rumble match

Another WrestleMania showdown between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes is officially set.

Rhodes secured his spot in the WrestleMania 40 main event by winning Saturday night’s men’s Royal Rumble match. Rhodes is the first wrestler to win the Rumble in back-to-back years since “Stone Cold” Steve Austin in 1997 and 1998.

DO THE WORK.
FINISH THE STORY.@CodyRhodes just won the Men's #RoyalRumble Match for the second year in a row! The American Nightmare has his sights set on @WWERomanReigns as the Road to #WrestleMania is underway! pic.twitter.com/RkHT2oAsLT

— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2024

Rhodes will now attempt to finish his story by challenging Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 40. After his Rumble win tonight, Rhodes pointed at Reigns and declared that he’s choosing to face Reigns at WrestleMania. The match is happening one year after Rhodes’ loss to Reigns at WrestleMania 39.

The final four wrestlers in the men’s Rumble were Rhodes, CM Punk, Gunther, and Drew McIntyre. The match then came down to Rhodes and Punk.

Rhodes got the advantage after hitting Cross Rhodes, but Punk then delivered a GTS to Rhodes. Punk hit a Pedigree and went for another GTS, but Rhodes blocked it and then threw Punk out of the ring.

Rhodes had entered the Rumble match as the 15th entrant.

Earlier in the night at the Royal Rumble, Reigns defeated AJ Styles, Randy Orton, and LA Knight in a fatal four-way match to retain the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.

WrestleMania 40 is being held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7. Women’s Royal Rumble winner Bayley will challenge either Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley or WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY at the event.