It was a night of champions, but also a night of pain for Cody Rhodes. The American Nightmare faced off against Brock Lesnar in a rematch from Backlash 2023, where he had scored a shocking victory over The Beast Incarnate. But this time, the odds were stacked against him.
Rhodes had suffered a broken arm already, and despite being warned by Triple H not to compete, he insisted on challenging Lesnar.
What followed was a brutal and epic battle that saw Rhodes fight with courage and heart, but ultimately fall victim to Lesnar’s devastating Kimura Lock. Rhodes passed out during the match, forcing the referee to stop the match and declare Lesnar the winner.
In other words, Brock Lesnar won against Cody Rhodes by referee’s stoppage at Night of Champions 2023, a WWE pay-per-view event held in Saudi Arabia.
Rhodes definitely fought with a broken arm, which was injured by Lesnar on a previous episode of RAW. Lesnar applied a Kimura Lock, a submission hold, on Rhodes’ arm twice during the match.
The first time, Rhodes managed to escape, but the second time, he lost consciousness and the referee called off the match.
1. How Lesnar and Rhodes Started Their Rivalry
The feud between Brock Lesnar and Cody Rhodes started after WrestleMania 39, where Rhodes defeated Roman Reigns to end his historic reign as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
Lesnar, who had been absent from WWE since losing to Reigns at WrestleMania 38, returned the next night on RAW and attacked Rhodes, setting his sights on the new champion. Lesnar challenged Rhodes to a match at Backlash 2023, where he hoped to reclaim the title, he never lost in a one-on-one match.
However, Rhodes shocked the world by pinning Lesnar after a grueling and bloody battle, making him the only person besides Reigns to defeat Lesnar twice in a row.
Lesnar was furious and vowed to destroy Rhodes, targeting his arm with a vicious Kimura Lock on several occasions. Rhodes refused to back down and accepted Lesnar’s rematch challenge for Night of Champions 2023, despite having a broken arm. The stage was set for a brutal and epic showdown between The Beast Incarnate and The American Nightmare.
2. How Lesnar Sealed the Deal with a Kimura Lock
The match between Brock Lesnar and Cody Rhodes at Night of Champions 2023 was a brutal and intense affair, with both men giving their all to prove themselves.
Lesnar had the advantage due to Rhodes’ broken arm, which he had injured on RAW with a Kimura Lock, a submission hold that targets the shoulder and elbow. Lesnar used this hold several times during the match, trying to make Rhodes tap out or break his arm.
Rhodes showed incredible resilience and courage, fighting through the pain and using his cast as a weapon to strike Lesnar. Rhodes also hit his signature move, the Cross Rhodes, three times on Lesnar, but could not keep him down for the three count.
Lesnar also hit his finisher, the F-5, on Rhodes, but Rhodes kicked out at two. The match ended when Lesnar locked in the Kimura Lock for the second time, and Rhodes passed out from the pressure. The referee stopped the match and declared Lesnar the winner by technical submission.
3. Would Lesner win if Rhodes did not have a broken arm?
Whether Lesner would still win the match against Rhodes if he did not have a broken arm is a hypothetical question that has no definitive answer, but one can speculate based on the previous matches and performances of Lesnar and Rhodes.
Rhodes had defeated Lesnar at Backlash 2023 without a broken arm, but it was a close and hard-fought victory. Lesnar had also shown his ability to adapt and overcome his opponents, as he did with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 38.
Therefore, it is possible that Lesnar could have still won the match at Night of Champions 2023 even if Rhodes did not have a broken arm, but it would have been more difficult and less decisive.
On the other hand, Rhodes had also demonstrated his resilience and determination, as he fought through the pain and almost pinned Lesnar several times. Therefore, it is also possible that Rhodes could have won the match at Night of Champions 2023 if he did not have a broken arm, but it would have required more endurance and luck.
Ultimately, the outcome of the match was influenced by many factors, such as strategy, psychology, momentum, and interference. The broken arm was a significant disadvantage for Rhodes, but it was not the only factor that determined the winner.
If you ask me, the match itself was quite unfair since one of the participants was severely restricted. This is not meant to discredit Lesner’s victory, but it would be a more fulfilling victory if he did not compete against Rhodes when the latter had such a significant disadvantage.
4. What’s Next for Lesnar and Rhodes in WWE
The match at Night of Champions 2023 was not the end of the rivalry between Brock Lesnar and Cody Rhodes, but rather a new chapter in their ongoing saga.
Lesnar and Rhodes have unfinished business, as both men have a win and a loss against each other. Lesnar wants to prove that he is the dominant force in WWE, while Rhodes wants to overcome the odds and challenge Roman Reigns again for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
There are several possible ways that WWE can book the next encounter between Lesnar and Rhodes, such as a Falls Count Anywhere Match, a No Disqualification Match, or a Fight Pit Match. Whatever the stipulation, fans can expect another brutal and thrilling clash between The Beast Incarnate and The American Nightmare.
5. About WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., doing business as WWE, is an American professional wrestling promotion. A global integrated media and entertainment company, WWE has also branched out into other fields, including film, American football, and various other business ventures.
WWE shows are sports entertainment, featuring story line-driven, scripted, and partially choreographed matches; though including moves that can put performers at risk of injury, even death, if not performed correctly. It was founded in 1953 as the Capitol Wrestling Corporation and is the largest wrestling promotion in the world. It is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.
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