Cody Rhodes is in a rivalry with Kevin Owens, and the former friends will clash at Saturday Night's Main Event on December 14, 2024. The Prizefighter and The American Nightmare started feuding after the Undisputed WWE Champion helped his former rival Roman Reigns against The Bloodline at Bad Blood.
At Saturday Night's Main Event, Rhodes will put the championship on the line against the former Universal Champion. Despite him defending the championship at various premium live events, there is arguably a major flaw in how Rhodes' story is progressing in WWE.
Cody Rhodes had called out Roman Reigns for not being a fighting champion
When The OTC was the champion, he mostly defended the title at premium live events. He was barely present on weekly shows to represent the title, let alone defend it on RAW or SmackDown. This was called out by The American Nightmare, who vowed to be a fighting champion when he dethroned Roman Reigns at WrestleMania XL.
Well, Cody Rhodes last put the championship on the line during the September 13, 2024 edition of WWE SmackDown against Solo Sikoa. His next title defense is on December 14, 2024. There is a time span of three months between the two championship matches, showcasing that he is not being a fighting champion.
If he was truly a fighting champion, he would have a championship match on weekly shows during these three months!
Most of his title defenses are at premium live events
Ever since becoming the champion at WrestleMania XL, The American Nightmare has mostly defended the champion at premium live events such as King and Queen of the Ring, Bash in Berlin, etc. While this is something expected out of the top champion, as a fighting champion, he needs to put the title on the line during weekly TV shows as well.
There are several superstars on the card who can pick up a feud with him, or Cody Rhodes can put out an open challenge for certain weekly shows. This would allow him to stick to his word and represent the championship differently from how Roman Reigns did.
Cody Rhodes is repeating his challengers
The American Nightmare has defended the championship against Solo Sikoa, AJ Styles, Logan Paul, and Kevin Owens on WWE television. Among that, he has faced The Phenomenal One, The Street Champion, and The Prizefighter on more than one occasion.
In fact, Styles and Owens were his challengers for two separate premium live events.
The American Nightmare can focus on others on the SmackDown roster to provide different types of matches for the WWE Universe.