Cody Rhodes has recaptured the TNT Championship, dethroning Sammy Guevara at Rampage: Holiday Bash to begin a record-setting third reign with the belt!
In the main event of AEW Rampage: Holiday Bash, Cody Rhodes challenged TNT Champion Sammy Guevara – initially laying down the gauntlet to the champion on the December 8th edition of Dynamite. Whilst Guevara wowed the crowd with his signature high-flying offence, he was ultimately outclassed by the more experienced Rhodes.
After stunning the champion with a Cross Rhodes, Cody’s victory looked all but secured but Guevara used the last of his strength to kick out and hit a GTH for a near-fall. Guevara attempted a 630 but Rhodes got his knees up, hitting two consecutive Cross Rhodes and a Tiger Driver 98 to capture the TNT title once again!
Following his victory, the title was presented to Cody by North Carolina wrestling legend David Crockett as the show went off the air.
CrossRhodes followed by a Tiger Driver 98, and #CodyRhodes becomes a 3-Time @AEWonTNT Champion! pic.twitter.com/H2isyer8oc
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 26, 2021
In a dark segment following the Rampage taping, Cody was confronted by one of the company’s hottest new stars HOOK! The Team Taz prodigy came to the ring and shook Rhodes’ hand before slapping the taste out of The American Nightmare’s mouth, leading Tony Khan to tease a match between the two when AEW returns to Greensboro.
Prior to recapturing the belt, Rhodes already held accolades of having the most TNT title reigns in AEW history on top of being its inaugural holder. Initially claiming the belt after defeating Lance Archer in the finals of the TNT Championship Tournament, Cody’s first reign ended at 91 days after a stunning 3:10 loss to Mr. Brodie Lee.
Following a brief hiatus, he regained the gold in a brutal Dog Collar match (in what would be Lee’s final match before his passing) and held it for just 31 days until being dethroned by Darby Allin at All Out 2020.