After a brief dance with Dominik Mysterio, the latest member of The Judgment Day who’s been calling himself “Dirty” in the past few weeks, Cody Rhodes is back at it again to resume his rivalry with Brock Lesnar. Roughly a month after he called out Lesnar, which initially fell on deaf ears, The American Nightmare has thrown down the gauntlet, summoning the Beast Incarnate for a rubber match at SummerSlam on August 5.
A scene set for a showdown between these two mammoths of the WWE universe, a platform to end the feud that has been simmering since Rhodes’ bitter loss against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39.
Rhodes issued the challenge on the latest Monday Night RAW episode, evoking an electrifying response from the audience. Rhodes declared his intent, promising an end to the chapter that Lesnar began “for no damn reason!” The third match will be carrying significant weight for either party. If Lesnar wins, he won’t be next in line for a championship bout but he’ll put everyone else that isn’t Roman Reigns on notice, whether it’s Seth Rollins, Gunther, or Austin Theory. But, for Rhodes, the stakes are higher, as passing the seemingly insurmountable odds and beating Lesnar clean will put him one step closer to challenging The Tribal Chief again for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship belt.
The tension between the two initially culminated in their first head-to-head at Backlash, where Rhodes emerged victorious but not without Lesnar getting his flowers from fans. The tables turned at Night of Champions in May, when Lesnar retaliated, making Rhodes tap out to a brutal kimura lock on his previously broken arm.
Not one to back down, Rhodes seemed to gain the upper hand in a brawl that followed the Money in the Bank event this month.
Standing amidst the Buffalo, New York crowd, Rhodes embodied the true spirit of a gladiator, challenging his nemesis as he readies himself to tackle the daunting presence of the 6’3″, 280-pound wrestler. In an impassioned speech, Rhodes hinted that everyone has their personal ‘Brock Lesnar,’ symbolizing an obstacle that needs to be overcome, whether it’s a challenging boss, student loan debt, or crippling anxiety.
In Rhodes’ case, the metaphorical obstacle manifests as the physical beast that is Lesnar. His declaration “What I dream is a rubber match with Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam,” echoed in the arena, a testament to the journey that has seen him win consistently, despite the looming shadow of the former UFC Heavyweight Champion.
The challenge, potent in its intensity, sent shockwaves through the WWE universe. Lesnar, absent from Monday’s Raw, has a date with destiny waiting in the upcoming week’s show. The anticipation is high; the stage is set for a showdown to end the prolonged rivalry.
Yet, a question lingers in the air – Will this be a conventional bout, or will a special stipulation be announced, as per the earlier rumors? Rhodes’ challenge remained elusive on the topic, leaving fans eagerly waiting for what’s next. SummerSlam 2023, slated for August 5 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, is primed to host this colossal encounter.
At the moment, this is the list of potential and/or confirmed matches for SummerSlam:
- WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jey Uso
- Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar
- Ronda Rousey vs Shayna Baszler
- Intercontinental Championship: GUNTHER (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
- Logan Paul vs. Ricochet
- WWE Women’s Championship: Asuka (c) vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Bianca Belair
- Women’s World Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Raquel Rodriguez
- Trish Stratus vs. Becky Lynch
Mind you, this doesn’t include a lot of big names yet, some of which could still be added to the card in the next few weeks. All the male members of The Judgment Day still have no matches planned for The Hottest Party of the Summer. The same goes for the World Heavyweight Champion, Seth Rollins. The Universal Tag Team Champions, Kevin Owns & Sami Zayn, haven’t been booked yet, nor is the United States Champion, Austin Theory, confirmed for SummerSlam.
With so much going on for August 5, the only thing surprising here is that the WWE isn’t thinking of turning it into a two-day event.
