Sammy Guevara made history at AEW’s Battle of the belts on Saturday night, defeating Dustin Rhodes to become TNT’s first interim champion. The show was supposed to see reigning TNT champion Cody Rhodes defend his title against Guevara, but “The American Nightmare” was pulled from the show a day earlier due to unknown medical issues. Guevara endured a Code Red through a table and two Cross Rhodes before managing to roll Rhodes for the win. He was then quickly confronted by Daniel Garcia, which resulted in a separation fight.
It is unclear when the unification match between Rhodes and Guevara for the two TNT titles will take place. Rhodes has two victories over “The Spanish God,” including one at AEW Rampage: Holiday Bash to become the first three-time TNT champion in company history.
We have our FIRST Acting #AEW Champion TNT @sammyguevara
Tune in NOW to @tntdrama #BattleOfTheBelts #AEWBOTB pic.twitter.com/OSooVHNWLb
– All elite wrestling (@AEW) January 9, 2022
Guevara cut a backstage promotion after a commercial hiatus, then announced that he would defend the title against Garcia on AEW Dynamite this coming week. Rhodes spoke to ComicBook last week to promote Go-Big Show season 2 and also addressed the fact that he is constantly being compared to The Boys’ Homelander as fans continue to be bitter about his babyface character.
“I never want to screw it up for anyone,” Rhodes said. “I never judge our fans or hold them accountable. They pay their money. They can do whatever they want. That’s the beauty of being a fan, but I can tell Sandra Gray, who has been making my team since Dashing Cody Rhodes, no She has an idea about Homelander. And now, that jacket is forever synonymous with her, but it’s a really unique parallel. I know people have a lot of fun with fan art when it comes down to it. With what’s going on with me and the reactions, I don’t want to ruin it for anyone, but I feel like the luckiest fighter in the world that we are capable of causing this polarity, that we can make every show discussed and discussed.
“And what excites me the most is that, as with all things AEW, we are not going down a path that you may have seen on another wrestling show,” he added. “We’re going to go in a different direction and that makes for a great fight because it’s new, because it’s fresh. But yeah, with everything that’s going on with the crowd for me right now, I really have to pinch myself, in terms of (being) very lucky. “
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