After several weeks away from SmackDown, Cody Rhodes reappeared on the August 22 episode to deliver a significant challenge for Wrestlepalooza, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown. His return came amid an ongoing feud with Drew McIntyre, highlighting the growing tension in WWE’s blue brand.
Earlier in the month, on August 8, Cody Rhodes partnered with John Cena in a tag team match against Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul, which concluded in a disqualification. Following the chaos, McIntyre launched a brutal attack, forcing Rhodes out of action with a Claymore kick through the side of the announcer’s table. Rhodes disappeared from television while McIntyre continued to taunt him publicly, heightening anticipation for his eventual return.
On this week’s SmackDown, Drew McIntyre secured a victory over Randy Orton in a singles match but was poised to assault Orton afterward. That moment was interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Cody Rhodes, now the Undisputed WWE Champion, who came charging to the ring to attack McIntyre. Rhodes then grabbed a microphone and issued a direct challenge to McIntyre for a match at Wrestlepalooza, promising a showdown to settle their brutal rivalry.
Implications for Randy Orton Amidst the Renewed Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre Feud
With Cody Rhodes back in the picture, the path forward for Randy Orton, who had been embroiled in a feud with Drew McIntyre during Rhodes’s absence, has become uncertain. This development raises questions about how Orton will fit into the evolving storyline and whether his involvement will extend through Wrestlepalooza.
On his Notsam Wrestling podcast, Sam Roberts shared his views on the ideal direction for the Wrestlepalooza main event. He expressed a preference for a one-on-one clash between Rhodes and McIntyre over a triple threat match that would also include Orton. Roberts argued that a straight singles championship match between two prominent characters offers the most natural and compelling narrative.
“For me, Cody Rhodess versus Drew McIntyre feels like the most natural match, and a match that I want to see Drew McIntyre in. But there are a lot of people hoping for the Triple Threat.…There are people that are hoping because we’re getting Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton on Smackdown this week. That they’re hoping that the match at Wrestlepalooza, that WWE Championship match, becomes a Triple Threat between Cody, Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre, which look, if it is a Triple Threat, that’s nothing I’m ever going to complain about. Seeing Cody and Randy and Drew all in the ring together would be unbelievable. But there’s still, for me, something about the big singles match. The big singles championship match. The big good guy Cody Rhodes versus the big bad guy Drew McIntyre. That’s what I’d like to see,” Roberts said.
What Lies Ahead for Wrestlepalooza and the Championship Picture
Cody Rhodes’s return and challenge to Drew McIntyre signals a pivotal moment for Wrestlepalooza. The anticipation surrounding their potential match reflects the intense rivalry brewing between two of WWE’s defining athletes. As the Undisputed WWE Champion, Rhodes now carries the responsibility of defending his title against McIntyre, who has proven to be a formidable adversary.
The resolution of this conflict at Wrestlepalooza could shape the direction of WWE’s championship scene for months to come, possibly influencing the roles of both Randy Orton and John Cena moving forward. Fans and analysts alike, including Sam Roberts, will be watching closely to see if Rhodes can overcome McIntyre in what promises to be a hard-fought battle.
