WWE Backlash main event between Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles makes history

The WWE Backlash 2024 main event between Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles made history.

On Saturday night, Rhodes and Styles headlined WWE Backlash 2024 at the LDLC Arena in Lyon, France.

Ahead of the main event, Rhodes’ entrance stole the headlines as 12,523 fans uttered every word of his "Kingdom" theme.

Backlash France also broke the record for the largest gate of any arena show in WWE history, beating the previous record held by Money in the Bank in London last year.

The event also made another piece of history as Jessika Carr became the first female official to ever referee a WWE title main event match.

Triple H wrote on social media: “Jessika Carr has been smashing through glass ceilings since she joined @WWE and last night was no different.

“At #WWEBacklash France @WWELadyRefJess became the first female official to ever referee a #WWETitle PLE main event match.”

Rhodes also acknowledged her achievement, he wrote: “Wanted to mention this after the contract signing, (and forgive me if I’m wrong but I don’t think I am…) It’ll be the VERY FIRST PLE Main Event for The Undisputed WWE Title officiated by a women @WWELadyRefJess”

Carr then replied: “Honored and incredibly grateful”

Jessika Carr has been smashing through glass ceilings since she joined @WWE, and last night was no different.

At #WWEBacklash France, @WWELadyRefJess became the first female official to ever referee a #WWETitle PLE main event match. pic.twitter.com/4L5h0HcSPm

— Triple H (@TripleH) May 5, 2024

After defending his title, Rhodes spoke about his potential next opponents.

He said: “LA Knight is somebody that I look at because, I get it, ‘it’s two good guys.’ I understand that. There is a flavour there. There is something about it. When you have that fever, you want to know. ‘I’m the man.’ ‘No, I’m the man.’ All that macho toxic alpha stuff that I still have a bit of, I suppose.”

Rhodes added: “I had a fairly humbling moment a few nights before WrestleMania — my bus [caught] fire outside of Lincoln Financial.

“[It was humbling] Knowing that all your things might go up in flames, minus the pair of boots that I took off as I was standing out in the rain watching this thing burn. Thankfully, that fire department handled it [and] put it out.”