Last time Cody Rhodes and Malakai Black shared a ring, Rhodes was beaten so badly he ended up teasing retirement.
For the rematch on the Sept. 22 “Grand Slam” edition of Dynamite, Cody brought one member of his Nightmare Family who also fell victim to Black’s kicks. He also brought his wife Brandi, making her first appearance since giving birth to their daughter, Liberty.
.@CodyRhodes is back...and so is @TheBrandiRhodes! It's Cody vs #MalakaiBlack NEXT - Watch #AEWDynamite: Grand Slam LIVE NOW on @tntdrama pic.twitter.com/IIFXWkofg4
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) September 23, 2021
None of that put the New York City crowd in the American Nightmare’s corner. The roughly 20,000 fans in Arthur Ashe Stadium cheered everything Malakai did, whether it was kick Cody to the ramp, or laugh off Brandi flipping him off.
Welcome back, @TheBrandiRhodes. #AEWGrandSlam #AEWDynamite #AEWonTNT pic.twitter.com/UEu0zE7xNR
— TDE Wrestling (@tde_gif) September 23, 2021
It looked like Black had it won after he kicked Rhodes to the floor, but he was unable to get Cody’s limp body back in the ring for a cover.
The kick from #MalakaiBlack knocks @CodyRhodes out and out of the ring - Watch #AEWDynamite: Grand Slam LIVE NOW on @tntdrama pic.twitter.com/z8SKWaBl6f
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) September 23, 2021
The EVP fought back, and got a nearfall with Cross Rhodes. But a chaotic sequence where Arn Anderson twice (once legit, once a planned bump) fell off the apron and chewed out Cody for checking on him, followed by the American Nightmare accidentally striking referee Paul Turner before Malakai spit mist on Rhodes and rolled him up for the win.
.@TommyEnd with the poison mist! #AEWGrandSlam #AEWDynamite #AEWonTNT pic.twitter.com/5s61S8YXCp
— TDE Wrestling (@tde_gif) September 23, 2021
Not the end, but definitely the right call. Queens might have rioted if Cody won.
Get complete results, and coverage of everything happening at the Grand Slam edition of Dynamite here.
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