CODY RHODES VS. REY MYSTERIO

This is another Wrestlemania match that I find criminally underrated. Back in January, Rey Mysterio accidentally broke Cody Rhodes' nose with a misplaced 619. This led to Rhodes missing the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber events, two consecutive chances to be close to a World Championship. They even brought out Dusty Rhodes to “talk to Rey Mysterio” which turned out to be a set up for an ambush, leading to this match.

Michael Cole, Josh Matthews and Jerry "The King" Lawler are on commentary for this match.

This could be a mask vs. mask match as Cody's having to wear a surgical reconstruction mask (ruining the “Dashing” gimmick he had going) since his return. Cody Rhodes makes his way out first, trying to hide his face from the cameras during his entrance. We see the accident with Rey's knee brace, which Cole calls intentional. Cody Rhodes returned two weeks ago to attack Rey using his surgical mask. Rey Mysterio makes his entrance in Captain America cosplay this year. Josh Matthews gets around to calling him WWE's real life superhero when Cole shuts up for long enough to allow it. Jerry Lawler calls what happened an accident, so Cole calls him out for not watching Smackdown.

CODY RHODES VS. REY MYSTERIO

WWE Wrestlemania 27 (3^rd April 2011)

  Rey Mysterio charges at the bell as Rhodes has to take his jacket off, Rhodes sends him over to the apron but Rey climbs to the top rope and sends Cody across the ring with a flying headscissors.

  Rey kicks at Cody's leg but is shoved back into the ropes. Cody ducks too early, getting kicked in the chest but knocks Rey down as he comes back off the ropes. Cody Rhodes has a chance to remove his entrance gear and he goes for Rey's knee brace but Rey kicks him off. Cody Rhodes sends Mysterio from one corner to the other as Cole asks if Rey even needs the knee brace. Rey tries to kick at Rhodes but ends up stuck on the middle rope. Cody Rhodes uses his mask, headbutting Rey and hitting a Disaster kick for a nearfall. Michael Cole emphasises that Rhodes not only needs his mask, but it's been approved by WWE Doctors for him to wear it during the match. Cody Rhodes stays on Mysterio, locking his arm up before applying a modified clutch on the mat. Rey Mysterio is able to get to his feet and elbow his way free.

  Cody Rhodes reverses an irish whip sending Rey into the corner, but Mysterio gets his boots up. Cody Rhodes blocks a headscissors, resting Mysterio across the top rope before hitting the Alabama slam for 2. Rhodes stomps on Rey's face and tries to go back to the knee brace, but gets kicked off. Rhodes drops his weight across Rey's shoulders forcing him against the middle rope, then holds himself against Rey until the count of 3. Cody keeps Rey on the mat with a trapeze hold, but Rey gets to his feet, he hits Cody with rights and avoids getting sent into the corner, Cody Rhodes blocks a headscissors out of the corner but Mysterio lands on the apron. Rey hits right hands on Cody Rhodes and climbs to the top rope. Cody meets Rey up there, knocking him off balance. Cody Rhodes holds Rey for a delayed superplex from the middle rope! Cody Rhodes crawls for the cover but only gets 2. Rhodes knees Mysterio in the back, setting him up for a Crossroads, Rey avoids it but Cody lifts him for a Dominator, but Mysterio counters sending Rhodes out of the ring with an armdrag.

  Rey Mysterio hits a running dropkick from the ring to Cody, Cody ducks the next time he sees Rey coming so Rey slides out to the floor. Rey sends Rhodes into the side of the ring with a headscissors then shoves Cody back inside. Rey hits a seated senton from the top rope, ducking a clothesline by Rhodes. Cody Rhodes tries to escape the waistlock, reaching between his legs for Mysterio but Mysterio flips Rhodes over into a pinning predicament for 2. Rey kicks at Cody's leg and hits him into the corner. Rhodes sends Rey across the ring but he catches him with a kick. Rey jumps in an electric chair position, trying to go for the mask but Cody brings him down to his feet on the mat. Cody Rhodes catches a wheelbarrow attempt, bringing Rey over with a german suplex for 2. Rhodes elbow's the top of Rey's head and sends him across the ring. Rey sends Cody across the ring with a headscissors, a basement dropkick has Rhodes in position for 619 but Rhodes catches it. He headbutts Mysterio with the mask and catapults Rey into the middle rope. Michael Cole congratulates himself for an obvious Captain America joke just like that uncle everyone has as Rhodes covers for a nearfall.

  Cody Rhodes goes back to Mysterio's knee brace, Rey tries to fight Cody off but it's eventually removed. Michael Cole makes the call that now it's a fair fight. Rey slides out to the apron, hitting Rhodes from the apron. Rey springs back in the ring with a moonsault for a nearfall. Rey loosens Cody's mask before running into a kick by Rhodes, the mask falls off before Rey sends Cody into the middle rope, Rey hits a 619 to Cody Rhodes! Rhodes gets his knees up as Rey flies from the top rope, but Rey blocked it and he kicks Cody in the side of the head. 1, 2, no! Rey Mysterio puts Cody's mask on and hits him with running headbutt attacks. Cody cuts him off with a knee to the gut as Cole complains that Rey shouldn't get away with this. Rhodes straddles the middle rope as Rey ducks out of the way, climbing out to the apron and jumping from the top rope with a headbutt for another nearfall. Cody rolls out of the ring as the referee gets the protective mask from Rey Mysterio.

  Cody has Rey's knee brace in his hands but the referee's the other side of the ring. Rey dives through the ropes into a shot from the knee brace! Cody Rhodes hits Crossroads in the ring and covers for the win.

WINNER: CODY RHODES

I remember this match being a lot better live than it was here, but it had a good story going in, they each had a decent game plan to stick to and after it picked up it became the match I remembered. Cody Rhodes got a winning return whilst still looking slimey as a heel and Rey has plenty of reason for a rematch. – WORKRATE: 2.75/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 2.75/5 OVERALL 5.5/10

  Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler continue to argue on commentary as I begin to feel sorry for Josh Matthews. Matthews and Lawler go over the celebrities that have been at Wrestlemania, leading us backstage with Snoop Dogg. He's there with Teddy Long who has organised a talent show so some of the wrestlers can audition for Snoop Dogg, who needs extra people to work his tour. They start with William Regal who's rap is surprisingly good, but not enough for Snoop. The Great Khali and I believe Beth Phoenix audition with “Summer Lovin'” from Grease, but that doesn't cut it either. Zack Ryder gets hit from behind by “Rowdy” Roddy Piper for singing, and Yoshi Tatsu and Chris Masters try Queen's “We Will Rock You” finally Hornswoggle comes out but Teddy Long mentions he can't talk. He spits out a verse as the Bella Twins make an appearance.