Cody Rhodes made a notable return to WWE SmackDown after being absent for more than a month, marking a significant moment for fans and the WWE community. His return came during the episode taped in Norfolk, Virginia, following his injury at SummerSlam and his personal milestones outside the ring.
Rhodes’ last WWE SmackDown appearance occurred on August 8th, the night after SummerSlam, when he partnered with John Cena against Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre. The match ended in disqualification, and Rhodes suffered a brutal Claymore Kick from McIntyre, which left him crashing through the commentary table and sidelined for weeks. This injury hiatus coincided with Cody filming his role as Guile in the new Street Fighter movie and welcoming his daughter Leilani with his wife Brandi.
Return Spotlight: Showdown With Drew McIntyre and Fan Response
At the SmackDown event in Norfolk, Drew McIntyre had just defeated Randy Orton with his signature Claymore Kick. After teasing a similar attack on Orton’s head against the commentary table, Cody’s music interrupted McIntyre’s dominance, signaling the American Nightmare’s comeback. Rhodes rushed to ringside, launched a quick assault on McIntyre, and executed his finishing move, the Cody Cutter, forcing McIntyre to retreat from the ring.
Following this confrontation, Rhodes took the microphone and delivered a brief but pointed message:
“Drew McIntyre, the champ is back! We can do this dance, I’ll see you, my friend…at Wrestlepalooza!”
Shortly after his promo, SmackDown went off the air, emphasizing the intensity and anticipation leading into their forthcoming clash.
Cody Shares Personal Updates and Gratitude with Fans
After the show, Rhodes addressed the crowd and fans online, revealing the significant personal and professional changes in his life over the past month. A video captured him speaking to an enthusiastic audience amid loud chants of “Cody.”
“Thank you guys so much. There’s more action tonight, but before that happens, I just want to tell you it’s been a hell of a month for me. I had a new baby girl Leilani, I got cast as Guile in Street Fighter and tonight I got to come back home. Thank you guys very, very, very much.”
Rhodes showed his respect to the WWE brand by kissing the mat emblazoned with the company’s logo and then posed as the crowd joined in singing along to his theme song, “Kingdom.”
Wrestlepalooza Card Taking Shape with Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre
With his return confirmed, Cody Rhodes is set to challenge Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship at the upcoming Wrestlepalooza pay-per-view event on September 20th. This addition further strengthens an already packed card that promises high stakes and intense rivalries.
Current confirmed bouts for Wrestlepalooza include:
- John Cena versus Brock Lesnar
- CM Punk & AJ Lee versus Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch
- WWE Championship match: Cody Rhodes versus Drew McIntyre
- Vacant Women’s World Championship match: Stephanie Vaquer versus Iyo Sky
- The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso) versus Bronson Reed & Bron Breakker
Fans can stream Wrestlepalooza live on Saturday, September 20, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ESPN in the United States and on Netflix in other regions worldwide.
