Wrestling followers in Detroit had been handled to a double dose of pleasure as Cody Rhodes, the newly topped Undisputed WWE Champion, took middle stage earlier than and after this week’s episode of SmackDown.

The American Nightmare started the night by addressing the blue model and its TV viewers for the primary time because the Undisputed Champ. After SmackDown concluded, the joy peaked when Rhodes closed the evening by wrestling his first match since turning into WWE’s irrefutable king at WrestleMania XL.

In a darkish match headlining the occasion, Rhodes confronted off towards Dominik Mysterio in a short non-title* affair that noticed Rhodes make quick work of the Judgment Day star.

After Rhodes caught “Soiled” Dom early with a delayed vertical facebuster, Mysterio rolled out of the ring to catch a breather. As Rhodes gave chase, Mysterio returned to the protection of the ring, the place he caught Rhodes with a collection of stomps because the champ tried coming into the squared circle.

Following a couple of further strikes and taunts, Mysterio went to ship the Three Amigos, a trio of vertical suplexes. Sadly, the third amigo should’ve been on the merchandise stand shopping for the latest Cody Rhodes t-shirt as a result of it wasn’t there for the younger luchador. As an alternative, Rhodes escaped on the third try and shortly took to the sky for a Cody Cutter, adopted by a Cross Rhodes to attain the pin.

As is customary following a Cody Rhodes efficiency, he addressed the fans after the final bell. Rhodes shared his connection to Detroit, contemplating it a hometown of kinds. He famous that he inducted his father into the WWE Corridor of Fame on the close by Fox Theatre in 2007 forward of WrestleMania 23. Moreover, he identified that his spouse Brandi hails from Canton earlier than introducing her mother and father, who had been seated within the entrance row.

And, as he all the time does, Rhodes made time to greet followers and signal autographs to ship the group residence pleased.

General, it was an entertaining night for these in attendance as they witnessed Rhodes’ first SmackDown monologue as champion. Although not as rousing as his inaugural tackle earlier within the week on Raw, Rhodes principally spoke to Santos Escobar, Rey Mysterio, LA Knight, AJ Kinds, Bobby Lashley, and his buddy, Kevin Owens, who had been to compete to earn the primary shot at Rhodes’ crown.

By the tip of SmackDown, Knight and Kinds had been left standing, successful their respective triple risk matches, establishing a rematch from WrestleMania, the place Knight emerged because the victor. Nonetheless, the stakes are larger now, because the winner of their subsequent encounter strikes on to Backlash on Could 4 in France for a title tilt with the Nightmare.

* = This match was not specified as being for the Undisputed Championship throughout ring introductions or within the final announcement to point that Rhodes had retained the title.