AJ Styles was the first to enter for the main event match, receiving another mixed reaction from the Lyon crowd. Styles is such a talented performer across the board that it would be difficult for him to get significant traction from fans, even if he was working as a heel during this match.
Cody Rhodes, as he has been for over two years now, was welcomed by the entire arena singing his entrance music, “Kingdom”. If it wasn’t already clear, between WrestleMania 40 and now this entrance, Rhodes is by far the biggest star on WWE’s roster. Even after the music stopped, the Lyon crowd continued to sing.
The crowd before the match was so big that as soon as Samantha Irwin introduced herself, the camera shook hard. Jessica Carr, referee, became the first woman to officiate a main event match for the WWE Championship.
The match began with some lockups between Rhodes and Styles, with neither gaining an early advantage, instead opting to trade headlocks and takedowns. Styles increased the tension by pushing Rhodes near the turnbuckle, to which the champion responded with a hard slap of his own.
After an impressive dropkick, Rhodes did a cartwheel and taunted Styles, reminiscent of his days as Stardust. Styles turned the tables again with a big dropkick of his own, but was met with a big back-body drop. Rhodes went for a pin, but Styles kicked out at one.
Rhodes turned his failed pinning attempt into a standing suplex. While Rhodes had the momentum, Styles pulled out a quick counter and focused on Rhodes’ shoulder, which Cole and Graves indicated the champion had injured in his match with Carmelo Hayes the previous month.
Styles was sent out of the ring and Rhodes attempted to take advantage by diving through the ropes, but was met with a forearm. Styles’ attack continued as he slammed Rhodes’ head into the American announce table and then removed the French announce table in search of high-impact maneuvers. Rhodes retaliated by sending Styles into the steel steps.
As Rhodes went for a standing superplex, Styles escaped and pulled Rhodes down to the mat. Rhodes suffered a back injury and Styles immediately hit the electric chair on Rhodes. As Styles went for a springboard moonsault, Rhodes brought his knees up for a frustration counter.
As the two brawled, Rhodes eventually gained the upper hand with a Scoop Powerslam and a Disaster Kick on Styles. Rhodes went for another pin but Styles kicked out at two.
In a crazy moment, Rhodes hit a second Disaster Kick, Styles countered into an electric chair and then Rhodes reversed him into a roll-up pin for a near fall. This led to more aggression between the two men, resulting in Styles hitting a brainbuster on Rhodes on the ring apron and Rhodes sending Styles into the French announce table with a powerbomb.
Both men beat the 10-count back in the ring and faced each other again, attacking each other and knocking each other down with simultaneous kicks. The two ran him back in before Rhodes got a near-fall after a Bionic Elbow.
Styles gained control with a counter to the Disaster Kick and a snap suplex into the turnbuckle and set Rhodes up for a Springboard 450 Splash. Styles went for the pin but Rhodes kicked out, much to the challenger’s dismay. Styles would follow up with a Burning Hammer and pin, but Rhodes kicked out of one and rallied for a Cody Cutter and another near fall, causing the chanted crowd to chant “Fight Forever”.
Rhodes went for the Crossroads but Styles countered with a Pele Kick and set the champion up for the Phenomenal Forearm. Styles’ finisher attempt was met with a Rhodes superkick and a Kimora Lock. Styles eventually fell out and went for several Styles Clash finishers, before Rhodes hit a huge Cody Cutter off the top rope.
That final sequence set up the finish, Crossroads, and pin for the win in Rhodes’ first televised title defense.
Cody Rhodes def. AJ Styles retained the WWE Undisputed Championship in 27:21.
