Cody Rhodes is currently 37 days into his second reign as the Undisputed WWE Champion, but his presence has been notably absent from WWE television after SummerSlam. The American Nightmare was written off TV shortly after defeating John Cena at SummerSlam, sparking concern and speculation among fans about his title defenses and future plans.
On the post-SummerSlam edition of SmackDown, Rhodes teamed with Cena to face Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre, a match that ended in disqualification. Following the bout, McIntyre attacked Rhodes with his title belt and executed a Claymore kick, sending Rhodes crashing into the announce table as a clear sign of hostility and setting up potential storylines.
Reasons Behind Rhodes’ Temporary Departure and Return Rumors
Rhodes’ removal from WWE programming was due in part to his commitment to filming the upcoming Street Fighter movie in Australia, which also stars Roman Reigns. This filming schedule contributed to the uncertainty surrounding his availability for WWE’s inaugural Wrestlepalooza premium live event (PLE) scheduled for September 20. Meanwhile, fans questioned the lack of a title defense since SummerSlam.
Adding to the speculation, Cody Rhodes and his wife Brandi announced the birth of their second child on August 29, which may have also affected his schedule. Originally, a title match between Rhodes and McIntyre was planned for Wrestlepalooza, but recent discussions suggested a possibility of McIntyre facing Randy Orton instead, depending on Rhodes’ return.
During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H confirmed that Rhodes’ return is imminent.
“I’ll give you a spoiler right now: Cody will be back, Indianapolis, so we’re… you know,”
—Triple H, WWE Chief Content Officer
Promoting Wrestlepalooza and Confirmed WWE Stars
Pat McAfee, serving as a part-time commentator, highlighted several superstars who are confirmed to appear at the first-ever WWE Wrestlepalooza event at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The lineup includes Rhodes, John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, CM Punk, AJ Lee, IYO SKY, and Stephanie Vaquer. McAfee described the event as a significant moment for WWE.
Triple H agreed and spoke enthusiastically about the event’s scale and WWE’s ongoing relationship with ESPN, hinting at exciting developments ahead.
“Yeah, Wrestlepalooza is gonna be massive. Yeah, it’s gonna be huge. [McAfee: congratulations] Thank you very much. Yeah, it’s exciting, ESPN is gonna be a blast. We’ve got a lot of stuff going on right now,”
—Triple H, WWE Chief Content Officer
Wrestlepalooza’s Position Amidst Competition
Wrestlepalooza was initially scheduled to coincide with All Out VII, a major event from rival promotion AEW, airing on the same date of September 20 in Toronto. AEW responded by moving the start time of All Out VII earlier, to 3 p.m. Eastern Time, to avoid direct competition with the WWE event. This strategic scheduling highlights the growing intensity of competition between WWE and AEW’s pay-per-view calendars.
Significance of Cody Rhodes’ Return to WWE Programming
Cody Rhodes’ confirmed return at Wrestlepalooza carries considerable weight for WWE as it marks the resumption of his WWE Championship defenses and solidifies Wrestlepalooza as a major event. Rhodes’ upcoming appearances are eagerly anticipated by fans who have expressed frustration over the period of inactivity following SummerSlam. His return also signals WWE’s commitment to delivering high-profile matches and storylines on big stage events, especially as the company expands its partnership with ESPN.
The event’s strong roster combined with Rhodes’ comeback is expected to generate significant excitement at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and set the tone for WWE’s future programming episodes and premium live events.
