Rhoden was the winner but you have to smash a champion in this sport to beat him. Look at a one armed Dorian winning in '97!!
i prefer Rhoden's physique but i think he really needed to outshine Heath drastically as you said, in at least one department, which i don't think he did.
Wolf did imo, his condition along with Branch was the best there and i actually rated him higher than Rhoden.
but Phil just has that something else that nobody does which keeps him ahead, those insane arms/delts and the pop to his muscles.
seems like the judges hold that in higher regard than they do Rhoden's strengths because Rhoden has by far the better shoulder-waist ratio and clavicle width but was still quite far off in the scorecard from beating him.




i think these are the shots which win it for Heath, even standing relaxed he has more pop to his muscles than anyone else.
the most muscular poses he just makes everyone else fade.