Cody Rhodes defeats former Champion for the third time in 2024 after RAW goes off the air

Cody Rhodes has had one of the most interesting years of his career, spending most of it as the Undisputed WWE Champion. After RAW went off the air, he defeated an ex-champion for the third time in 2024.

Cody Rhodes was advertised for Monday Night RAW but not for any part of the two-hour programming. Instead, he and LA Knight were advertised for the dark matches, and everyone wanted to see Cody in Hershey, Pennsylvania, as he took on an up-and-comer who he had faced twice before.

In the last dark match of the night, Rhodes defeated former NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes for the third time this year.

Cody has had an interesting series of dark matches, recently defeating the dominant Jacob Fatu in an untelevised post-RAW bout. In that incident, it took multiple Cross Rhodes to defeat the Samoan Werewolf.

While it wasn't as big a war against Carmelo Hayes, the man who could be the next United States Champion put up a good fight. In his first night on the main roster, he challenged Cody and was defeated.

Perhaps they'll meet again for a bigger feud someday.