Cody Rhodes Wins WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40 After Escaping Tour Bus Fire

Cody Rhodes emerged victorious at WrestleMania 40, capturing the WWE Championship from Roman Reigns in the main event. The win came just days after Rhodes narrowly escaped a tour bus fire in Philadelphia that threatened to derail his WrestleMania plans.

The incident occurred when Rhodes' tour bus caught fire, putting him and others on board in danger. Thankfully, Rhodes and everyone else managed to evacuate the bus unharmed. The fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the blaze, which had also put The Miz's nearby bus at risk. "It was a close call," Rhodes later shared on social media, expressing appreciation for the quick response of the fire department and the support from fans and colleagues.

Despite the frightening experience, Rhodes showed incredible resilience by not only competing at WrestleMania 40 but defeating Roman Reigns to end his historic 1,316-day reign as champion. The highly anticipated match featured outside interference from The Usos and Solo Sikoa on behalf of Reigns, as well as appearances by The Undertaker, The Rock, and John Cena in support of Rhodes.

Why this matters: Cody Rhodes' WWE Championship victory marks a significant moment in his career and the landscape of professional wrestling. It solidifies his status as a top star in WWE and presents promising opportunities for fresh matchups and storylines going forward.

Following his triumphant win, Rhodes is now officially a member of the SmackDown roster. His first challenger for the title will be determined in an upcoming match between AJ Styles and LA Knight, with the winner facing Rhodes at WWE Backlash on May 4. As Rhodes embarks on his reign as WWE Champion, he has also expressed interest in a potential match against The Rock in the future, believing that being a fighting champion could entice "The Great One" to return for a blockbuster showdown.

Key Takeaways

• Cody Rhodes defeated Roman Reigns to win the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40.
• Rhodes narrowly escaped a tour bus fire in Philadelphia before the event.
• Rhodes' WWE Championship reign ends Reigns' historic 1,316-day title run.
• Rhodes will defend the title against the winner of AJ Styles vs. LA Knight at WWE Backlash.
• Rhodes is interested in a potential match against The Rock in the future.