WrestleMania 40 Night 2: Live results, highlights, match grades (2024)

The main event is finally here. Cody Rhodes made a special entrance, accompanied by his wife Brandi, before the lights went out and “Kingdom” hit.

Shortly afterward, Reigns was played out by a local orchestra.

Following another sensational intro from Samantha Irvin (give her a raise, Triple H), the match began with a staredown between the two superstars, and an old-school ring circle and lockup.

Taking advantage of Bloodline Rules, Rhodes quickly took the opportunity to look under the ring and drag out a table, but Reigns knocked him down and shoved the table back under the ring, to the dismay of the Philly crowd.

Reigns scored the first shots with a Kendo stick, welting the back of Rhodes.

Rhodes recovered, hit a Ric Flair “Woo!” and locked Reigns into a figure four in the center of the ring.

The action spilled out of the ring, where Reigns tried to hit Rhodes with a giant Prime bottle (and appeared to miss) before tossing Rhodes over the barricade and fighting in the crowd.

Reigns got Rhodes atop a table and tried to suplex him, but Rhodes reversed with a suplex of his own.

Reigns trash talked Rhodes when the action got back inside the ring and took control of the match.

Rhodes rallied and hit a Disaster Kick, but Reigns kicked out immediately after a one count. Reigns retaliated by hitting Rhodes with his own move, the Cross Rhodes, but Cody was able to kick out. Reigns then had a conversation with Paul Heyman, saying he just wanted to “shove it in his face.”

Interestingly, The Rock and every other member of The Bloodline has not yet appeared through the first 20 minutes of the match, but that feels inevitable.

Rhodes cleared off the U.S. announce table, but Reigns hit Rhodes with a low blow and then powerbombed him through the table. Reigns rolled Rhodes into the ring, hit a Superman Punch for good measure, but only got a two count from referee Charles Robinson.

Rhodes scored the next two near falls, off a picture-perfect Cody Cutter, and later a spear. Just as Rhodes was about to hit a second consecutive Cross Rhodes, Jimmy Uso jumped in the ring to hit Rhodes with a Superkick and save Reigns.

Just as it seemed that The Bloodline had the upperhand, Jey Uso made a surprise entrance and speared Jimmy off the stage and onto tables below.

Rhodes speared Reigns through the barricade outside the ring, sparking “this is awesome” chants in Philly.

Back inside the ring, Rhodes hit Reigns with two consecutive Cross Rhodes, only for Solo Sikoa to show up and level Rhodes and drag Reigns over his body.

Rhodes managed to kick out, but still faced a 2-on-1 situation. Sikoa held Rhodes in place to allow Reigns to spear him, but Rhodes somehow still kicked out.

Stunningly, John Cena’s music hit, and he stormed to the ring and demolished Solo Sikoa before hitting an Attitude Adjustment on Reigns. Cena cleared the Spanish announce table and delivered another Attitude Adjustment on Sikoa through the table – only for The Rock to show up.

Cena and The Rock met at the center of the ring and recreated an iconic moment from The Rock’s match with Hulk Hogan, trading looks to either side of the crowd, before The Rock hit a Rock Bottom on Cena.

In another twist, The Shield music hit, and after a delay, Seth Rollins entered the ring in his classic Shield gear but was intercepted by a Superman Punch from Reigns.

Then…. THE UNDERTAKER? The gong hit and the lights went out, and The Undertaker appeared directly behind The Rock. After a chokeslam to The Great One, the lights went out again, and when they came back up, both men had vanished from the ring.

Reigns held a steel chair, but instead of attacking Rhodes, he took a shot at the back of Rollins. Rhodes used the advantage to gain control and hit three successive Cross Rhodes on Reigns, scoring the pinfall to complete his story in incredible fashion.

Cody Rhodes is the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.

Match Grade: 5/5

An all-time WrestleMania classic, and a fitting end to a phenomenal story. Stunning returns that didn’t overshadow and only added to what was an epic match between Rhodes and Reigns.