WWE storytelling expanded beyond the pay-per-view cameras 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 segment off-air at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. A heated conversation between undisputed WWE Champion Rhodes and his friend Owens turned physical after Owens jabbed a finger into Rhodes’ chest. Rhodes attempted to defuse the situation and walk away. Owens hit Rhodes with a stiff punch as Rhodes bent down to collect his title on the floor. Owens continued to assault Rhodes, throwing him against a tour bus and kicking him to the ground. WWE personnel intervened shortly after.
Tensions had been brewing between Rhodes and Owens for months. Rhodes gave his real friend a shot at the undisputed WWE title at Bash in Berlin on August 31. The rivalry started out friendly but became increasingly tumultuous as their title match approached. Rhodes won the championship and buried the hatchet, but Owens was upset at his failure to become world champion again. Their friction continued during the build to Bad Blood, but WWE subverted expectations by running Owens heel to turn off the television.
Rhodes headlined Bad Blood on Saturday with longtime rival Roman Reigns. They teamed up in a winning effort against Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu of The Bloodline. The main event of Bad Blood featured the returns of The Rock and Jimmy Uso, both of whom have been absent from WWE programming for six months.
