Drew McIntyre shared a humorous message following Cody Rhodes’ WWE return on the September 12 episode of SmackDown, creating a buzz among fans. Rhodes, known as “The American Nightmare,” made his comeback one month after McIntyre’s attack on the August 8 SmackDown, immediately setting the stage for a heated rivalry between the two.
Clash Rekindled on SmackDown with Match Announcement
Upon his return, Rhodes confronted McIntyre as the latter was about to deliver a Claymore Kick to Randy Orton through the announce table. This move was the same one that sidelined Rhodes last month. After a brief struggle, Rhodes successfully pushed McIntyre away and officially challenged him to a match at WWE Wrestlepalooza on September 20.
McIntyre’s Playful Response on Social Media
For the first time since Rhodes’ return, McIntyre addressed the showdown via Twitter. He posted a video of himself driving while playing Cody’s entrance theme song, “Kingdom.” Alongside the clip, Drew captioned his post:
“The Rock wants Cody’s soul. I want his ass.” — Drew McIntyre
Recognizing the tone of his message, McIntyre followed up by sharing an iconic Kurt Angle promo from 2002 that stated,
“I’m a man who loves to play with boys.”
He captioned the photo simply with the word “Wait,” reflecting on his earlier comment.
Significance of the Upcoming Wrestlepalooza Match
The forthcoming match marks McIntyre’s first opportunity to challenge for the Undisputed WWE Championship since his move to SmackDown earlier this year. It is also his first singles title match since June 2024 at Clash at the Castle, where he lost the World Heavyweight Title to Damian Priest.
Other Confirmed WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025 Matches
Besides Rhodes versus McIntyre, WWE Wrestlepalooza has several other high-profile matches scheduled. These include IYO SKY defending the Women’s World Championship against Stephanie Vaquer, Brock Lesnar facing John Cena, and the tag matches of CM Punk & AJ Lee versus Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch, as well as The Usos against The Vision (Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed).
Looking Forward to WWE’s Upcoming Events
The rivalry between Rhodes and McIntyre, fueled by McIntyre’s witty and provocative messages, sets the stage for a compelling WWE Wrestlepalooza event. With McIntyre aiming to reclaim championship glory and Rhodes returning from injury, fans can expect a highly intense encounter. Meanwhile, the other marquee matches promise a stacked card that will draw significant attention within the wrestling world.
