Cody Rhodes Shocks Manchester By Inviting UFC Champion To The Ring

WWE was in Manchester, England, on Wednesday (October 16), with headliners Cody Rhodes, Solo Sikoa, Gunther, and Nia Jax on the card. WWE Champ Rhodes entered the ring to cut a promo before a match between World Heavyweight Champion Gunther and challenger Chad Gable.

Rhodes shocked and delighted the Manchester audience by inviting UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall to the ring. Aspinall, an English-born fighter, naturally got a hero's welcome. By all accounts, the UFC champ cut a decent promo... until Gunther showed up.

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Tom Aspinall pulled up to a WWE show in Manchester and showed off his heavyweight title 😭🔥

🎥 IG / @TheCoopLive #UFC #MMA #WWE pic.twitter.com/vkE53wK3x3
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 16, 2024

Gunther called for a photo-op between the three men saying, "Cody, since now all three of the top TKO champions are in the ring, we can take a picture together."

An X user by the name of Bendo Nagasaki reported that the photo-op was interrupted by Gunther's opponent for the night, Chad Gable, which segued into their championship match. The promo by the TKO champions was reportedly an effort to hype up the upcoming Crown Jewel PLE.

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Cody brings out Manchester's Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall...!

But here comes DER RINGGENERAL GUNTHER. We have all 3 male TKO Heavyweight Champions in the ring... pic.twitter.com/4gB9qiHMn8
— Bendo Nagasaki (@BritWresAwayDay) October 16, 2024

On November 2, Rhodes and Gunther will clash over the men's Crown Jewel Championship, a new, extravagant title introduced by Triple H at Bad Blood that contains 50 carats of diamonds. The champion vs champion match will be an annual affair at the Saudia Arabia event.

The women's division will also see a champion vs champion match for their version of the Crown Jewel Championship when Nia Jax collides with Liv Morgan.

As for Aspinall, he told SunSport, "When I have retired from MMA, I'm switching over to WWE. And I'm going to be the WWE heavyweight champ."

Aspinall seems to be serious about his aspirations for the squared circle. At 6'5" and 250 lbs., who's going to tell him no?

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