That's particularly important for the former given what transpired at SummerSlam. Rhodes could feasibly carry the gold into Survivor Series: WarGames in November and then through the Royal Rumble to set the stage for one of the WrestleMania 42 headliners.

Cody Rhodes is once again undisputed WWE champion. Rhodes outlasted John Cena in a lengthy, hard-fought SummerSlam Night 2 main event on Sunday to regain the championship he lost to Cena at WrestleMania.

John Cena’s time in WWE is soon coming to a close, and he spectacularly passed the torch to Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam – no heel turn needed. But that’s not what the night will be remembered