![KO got what he wanted! [Image credits: WWE.com]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/246c1-17354088358079-1920.jpg)
![KO got what he wanted! [Image credits: WWE.com]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%205.625'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUH/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQP/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAMfmlH//xAAhEAACAQMDBQAAAAAAAAAAAAACAwEABSEEEiIGERRk0//aAAgBAQABPwBNzLSWhZoBcaxz55klZjAQodsbSGc8pzU9QXUp7+SrPqI+df/EABQRAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/2gAIAQIBAT8Af//EABURAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB/9oACAEDAQE/AK//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes' next blockbuster match was confirmed on WWE SmackDown this week. The Prizefighter didn't take long to send a clear message to his former friend.
The latest edition of the Friday night show saw Rhodes return to confront Owens for his actions at Saturday Night's Main Event. After some verbal back-and-forth, a Ladder Match was announced between the two stars for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Royal Rumble 2025.
Just when things seemed normal, KO suddenly pushed Nick Aldis onto The American Nightmare and took some cheap shots on the latter. He then walked away with the Winged Eagle Belt, claiming he was the "true champion." Kevin Owens also put Cody Rhodes on notice ahead of the Royal Rumble clash.
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"I'm the true champ! I'm the true champ! I'm the true...[hits his forehead with the Winged Eagle Belt]...I'm the true champion! See you at the Rumble b****!" said Kevin Owens.
WWE veteran not interested in Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes' Ladder Match
While speaking on Sportskeeda Wrestling's Smack Talk, Dutch Mantell revealed that he "hated" the addition of the Ladder Match stipulation in the feud between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens.
The former WWE personality also stated that ladder matches, in general, are losing their "drawing power" due to being repeated multiple times in a year.
"But other than that, it was what it was, and I hated the Ladder Match stipulation. It just didn't excite me at all!...Well, Ladder Matches, you only see so many of them; when you continually do them throughout the year, they lose their drawing power because you can see every finish and what is left to do. So, if they wanted me to buy a ticket to see a Ladder Match, I'd say, 'Nah, I'd go watch this other movie down the street.' I'll wish them luck, I just didn't enjoy the show, I don't think it was well put together," said Dutch Mantell.
It will be interesting to see what Triple H has in store for Owens and Rhodes in the coming weeks.
