WWE’s storytelling extended beyond the pay-per-view cameras on Saturday night. Smartphone footage captured a heated conversation turned violent between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens after WWE Bad Blood went off the air on Saturday.
Fans captured the off-broadcast segment at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. An animated conversation between undisputed WWE champion Rhodes and his friend Owens turned physical after Owens pressed a finger into Rhodes’ chest. Rhodes tried to de-escalate the situation and walk away. Owens stuck Rhodes with a stiff sucker punch as Rhodes reached down to grab his title off the floor. Owens continued to assault Rhodes, slamming him into a tour bus and kicking him on the floor. WWE staff intervened soon after.
Tensions were flaring for Rhodes and Owens for months. Rhodes gifted his real-life friend an undisputed WWE title shot at Bash in Berlin on Aug. 31. The rivalry started friendly but grew increasingly tumultuous in the lead-up to their title match. Rhodes won the and buried the hatchet but Owens was upset with his failure to become a world champion again. Their friction continued during the build to Bad Blood but WWE subverted expectations by executing the Owens’ heel turn off television.
Rhodes headlined Bad Blood on Saturday with longtime rival Roman Reigns. They teamed together in a winning effort against The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu. Bad Blood’s main event featured the returns of The Rock and Jimmy Uso, both of whom had been absent from WWE programming for six months.
