WWE’s Royal Rumble event is going down this Saturday, and the pro wrestling world can’t wait to see who is pointing at the WrestleMania sign by the end of the night. WARNING: This article may contain spoilers, and a bit of disappointment for the Nightmare Family.
WWE’s Plan For Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania Main Event
Many fans were shocked when Cody Rhodes failed to topple Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39, but there’s always next year, or is there? It appears that WWE has shifted things a bit, and Cody will keep telling his story without finishing it.
After Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returned during the Day 1 RAW episode on January 1st, the entire landscape for the grandest stage of them all changed. Where it was previously thought that Cody vs Roman is going to happen again, and the American Nightmare could finish his story, there has reportedly been a change of plans.
WWE’s WrestleMania Plan For Cody Rhodes
I exclusively reported here at SE Scoops that a triple threat match for Cody vs Roman vs Rock is not happening. The WWE creative team was informed that point-blank last week. A new report is now removing Rhodes from the picture completely, because there is a new story to start for him.
Sports Illustrated‘s Justin Barrasso reports that multiple sources have told him that Cody Rhodes will not finish his story at WrestleMania 40, and the main event match is not his. Instead, Rhodes will face CM Punk at Mania in a match that will also likely not give Punk what he wants, which is a legit WrestleMania main event.
Multiple sources close to WWE Head of Creative Paul “Triple H” Levesque have indicated that Rhodes will not headline this year’s event, nor will he “finish his story” at WrestleMania. But there is still a new chapter to write with a marquee matchup to be had… against CM Punk.
I exclusively reported here at SE Scoops that WWE was still planning a match for Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40 despite his MCL injury. I was also told that, as of last night, WWE is still hopeful that Rollins will compete at Mania. “Rollins is still on for Mania at this moment,” was the exact wording given to me.
Exclusive Insight On WWE’s Plans
I was told in September that the winner for the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match was in place, but nothing is set in stone with WWE until the final plans are made. Then, I asked again in December after CM Punk returned and declared his Rumble entry, and I was told once again that the plans for the winner have not changed. It was also confirmed to me that Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania match hadn’t changed either.
I asked again last week whether plans for the Royal Rumble match were changed, because a lot of things went down from December to late January, including The Rock’s return. This time, I received a different answer that to fulfill my query request would be to indicate a spoiler.
Triple H only gets one go at booking his first road to WrestleMania without Vince McMahon’s controlling input. By all appearances, it will be an epic trip to the showcase of the immortals this year. Stay tuned, because January 27th will likely be a very big day for the Royal Rumble in Tropicana Field.
WWE superstar Cody Rhodes recently named two AEW stars who he believes should join WWE.
‘The American Nightmare’ has been on the top of his game ever since he left AEW and decided to return to WWE in 2022. He went on to win the Royal Rumble and main-event last year’s WrestleMania.
Cody is one of the examples who came back years later as a huge star. While the WWE roster is stacked with a plethora of talents, Cody has picked some names that he would like to see join WWE in the future.
Cody Rhodes names Ricky Starks and Wardlow
Rhodes and Starks have a good friendship outside the ring and Starks has been spotted backstage in WWE supporting Rhodes.
During a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Cody Rhodes revealed that he wants ‘The Absolute One’ to jump ship to WWE.
“My buddy Ricky Starks. I know he’s under contract so that’s not happening – but it’d be cool to see.”
In addition to this, the former AEW star named Wardlow, who had been speculated to join WWE in the past. Rhodes believes that Wardlow will fit well in the heavyweight-dominated WWE locker room.
“Wardlow is one I’d like to see cross over if he ever wanted to.” Rhodes continues. “There’s a lot of beef in the WWE locker room; it’s a heavyweight locker room. It’s hard when you think you’re big and jacked, then you stand across the ring from Drew McIntyre and you find out ‘Oh, maybe not’. Wardlow is somebody I feel could fit into that role really well.
“It seems like we’re in this day where we’re doing so well everyone wants to be part of it, and the more the merrier. I’m happy with anyone who wants to make the leap and be part of this team.”
2K recently announced that Cody Rhodes will be the cover Superstar for the regular version of the upcoming WWE 2K24 game. ‘The American Nightmare’ recently went face to face with CM Punk in an epic promo battle on this week’s Monday Night Raw. Cody and Punk are among the several talented superstars who are aiming to win the coveted Royal Rumble match and earn a title shot at WrestleMania 40.
CM Punk and Cody Rhodes didn’t disappoint with their war of words during the January 22, 2023, edition of Monday Night Raw.
On this week’s Raw, CM Punk and Cody Rhodes came face-to-face in a meeting of WWE’s two most-popular Superstars. Punk kicked things off by bringing up Dusty Rhodes and recalled the late Hall of Famer asking Punk to watch over a young Cody in OVW in 2007. Punk added he was proud of Rhodes for becoming a big superstar in recent years.
Punk then spoke of this weekend’s Men’s Royal Rumble match, and said he plans on breaking his promise to Dusty (by not watching over Cody and winning the match.) Punk even claimed he’d single out Cody in the match. Punk went even further when he said that his dad was an electrician, before saying that he is more of the American Dream than Cody is.
Rhodes Retorts
Not to be outdone, Cody fired right back at the Best in the World and brought up Punk’s infamous 2011 pipebomb. Rhodes gave Punk props, saying his words inspired countless wrestlers competing today, including himself.
Rhodes then brought up Punk’s 2014 walkout and pointed out that for all his claims during the pipebomb, Punk didn’t do any of them. CM Punk teased joining New Japan Pro Wrestling or returning to Ring of Honor during the 2011 Pipebomb, but did neither. Cody also mentioned that he went to the places Punk claimed he’d go.
WWE is officially on the “Road to WrestleMania,” and fans wonder if Cody Rhodes will finish his “Story.” Although he is experiencing success in his second stint with the company and is the new cover star for WWE 2K24, Rhodes is still looking to become a WWE Champion.
“WrestleMania 39, I don’t want to say I shrunk under the lights, but it hit me harder than it hit Roman Reigns,” said Rhodes. He continued, “Roman has been in those main events before. If anything, it motivated me further. It’s not just about being in the main event. It’s not about being happy to make the walk. You have to win.”
As he prepares for the WWE Royal Rumble on January 27, “The American Nightmare” has imposed a unique ultimatum upon himself.
Cody Rhodes Doesn’t Want To Be On The Next WWE 2K Cover If He Doesn’t Finish His Story
Although he is happy to be the WWE 2K24 cover star, he doesn’t believe he should be in that position if he doesn’t win the WWE Championship this year. He also joked about not being in next year’s game if he doesn’t accomplish his goal.
“If I haven’t finished the story by WWE 2K25, don’t bring me back for the commercial,” said Rhodes. “Don’t put me on the cover, don’t put me anywhere near it. I won’t deserve it. But it’s fun that this is happening in real-time, and we all get to experience it together.”
“The American Nightmare” is staying positive and highly motivated to bring the WWE Championship to the Rhodes Family. However, he will have 29 other superstars standing in his way at the WWE Royal Rumble. There is also the rumor that the company could be looking to have The Rock challenge Roman Reigns at WWE WrestleMania 40 in April.
Regardless, Rhodes has pressured himself to finish his “Story” before the next WWE 2K game.
WWE knows how to make an announcement, and that includes telling Superstars about big career moments. We’ve seen countless videos of NXT Superstars discovering that they’re getting called up to the WWE main roster. Now, WWE has dropped a new video where Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, and Bianca Belair discover about a huge career landmark.
WWE 2k24 Cover Superstars
WWE Games unveiled the cover Superstars for the upcoming WWE 2K24 game, creating excitement among fans. Cody Rhodes is set to be featured on the regular version’s cover, while Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley will be jointly featured on the deluxe edition cover. Further insights into the upcoming game were also revealed.
As part of the information release on January 22nd, a trailer was unveiled, offering more details. Fans are excited, but just imagine being told that you’re on the cover of the upcoming game.
Triple H’s Big WWE 2K24 Reveal
WWE released a video of Triple H telling Cody Rhodes, Bianca Belair, and Rhea Ripley that they landed the cover of WWE 2K24. They were actually brought to the photo shoot in question under the guise of it being for WWE 2K23, but that was not the case.
Needless to say, Rhodes, Ripley, and Belair were incredibly excited about the news that they will be cover Superstars. Not only is this a huge honor, but it also comes with a nice paycheck.
After the big news was dropped, the three top WWE Superstars took part in a photo shoot, where they had a blast celebrating their recent career benchmark.
Fans waited for a big announcement from WWE2K 24 today, and it was certainly delivered. Now, we have even more information about what to expect.
WWE 2K24 Promises New Experience
WWE Games announced their cover Superstars for the upcoming WWE 2K24 game, and fans have a reason to be excited. Cody Rhodes will grace the cover of the regular version, whereas Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley are sharing the deluxe edition. Now, we have more information about the upcoming game.
A trailer was also released as part of the information roll-out on January 22nd. This includes even more tidbits about the upcoming Forty Years of WrestleMania mode.
It appears that the 40 years of WrestleMania mode will allow gamers to re-live every past Mania event. This could be an incredible undertaking, and they included a bit of text within the trailer to paint this picture.
Re-Live Forty Years of WrestleMania
All-New Match Types
New Career Mode Experiences
WWE 2K24 Downloadable Content
The Nightmare Family Pack will also be included in this game. That will feature four playable Superstars, including Dusty Rhodes, Dashing Cody Rhodes (in facemask), Stardust, and Superstar Billy Graham.
This will also include new MyFaction cards, including Pharaoh as a manager. Stardust’s inclusion in the game is incredibly interesting, considering Cody’s reluctance to give it a huge spotlight since his return.
WWE 2K24 Release Date
The new game will have two waves for their release dates. On March 5th, WWE 2K24 Deluxe Edition and Forty Years of WrestleMania editions will drop.
The standard and cross-gen digital editions of the game will come out on March 8th. Pre-order is now open.
WWE 2K24 has generated some major excitement among gamers for its upcoming release, and the teasers are keeping fans intrigued. Now we know who got the cover of the game this year.
2K announced that Cody Rhodes will be the cover Superstar for the upcoming WWE 2K24 game. He will be on the cover of the regular version.
The WWE Games account made this big announcement as they included some lyrics from Cody’s famous Kingdom theme song, “Crowd is here, about to blow Waitin’ for me to start the show Out the curtain, lights go up, I’m home. WOAAAAHHH”
? Crowd is here, about to blow Waitin’ for me to start the show Out the curtain, lights go up, I’m home ?
The WWE Games account also unveiled that Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley will share the cover of the deluxe edition of the game. They are sharing the cover in a stylish split-screen fashion.
While saying that the deluxe edition of the game is the EST, they also noted, “Two groundbreaking superstars. One historic cover.”
Two groundbreaking superstars. One historic cover ? ?
WWE Games also announced that the upcoming WWE 2K24 game will include a special feature called “Forty Years of WrestleMania.”
It is unclear what that feature will include at this time, but there will likely be a lot more updates to come. This could have also been why WWE Games dropped so many legendary teases over the past few days.
The release date for WWE 2K24 has not been announced at the moment, but examining the timing of last year’s release provides some insight into what to anticipate.
WWE 2K23, reviewed favorably by SEScoops, was launched on March 14th, 2023, available on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
WWE 2K24 has gamers excited about their next offering, and we can’t get enough of the teases. Who will be on the cover of the upcoming game is a huge discussion point, and now we have a possible spoiler for that big reveal.
WWE 2K24 Cover Superstar Tease
WWE 2K24 is coming, and fans are awaiting big news on January 22nd. If they plan to reveal the cover Superstar, it appears that a recent tease may have given that away.
WWE Games sent out a social media blast that drew a lot of attention. They parodied Cody Rhodes’ famous bucket list that he put out after he left WWE. This time, it included things to do upon his return to the company, including snagging a cover Superstar spot for a 2k game.
The last three items on Cody’s new list were not checked off. This leads many to assume that he will be the cover Superstar for WWE 2K24.
If you need to be reminded of Cody Rhodes’ previous list, we’ve posted it below. He achieved a great deal of those bullet points and so much more.
2K’s Teaser campaign
The WWE 2K series has been getting consistently better since it was overhauled two years ago and we’re hoping the improvements continue and 2K24 reaches new heights.
WWE and 2K are booting the hype machine for this year’s game. It’s WrestleMania 40, WWE is under new ownership and business is booming. This year’s game has to be big and we’re already seeing the attention being put towards ensuring a record-setting launch.
The revelation that Cody Rhodes included ‘WWE 2K24 Cover Superstar’ on his career bucket list is the latest drop from an ongoing social media campaign from 2K. They sent out an Instagram post with a photo of a referee shirt and tagged “Stone Cold” Steve Austin in the photo, which drew a lot of attention.
The WWE 2K24 release date has not been announced as of press time, but we can look at the timing of last year’s release to get some idea of what to expect.
WWE 2K23, which SEScoops gave a strong review to in our review, was released on March 14th, 2023 for PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
We will be covering WWE 2K24 extensively in the months ahead. Stay tuned!
WWE Raw Superstar Cody Rhodes has continued to prove himself as a hero of modern fans with a heartwarming interaction at a recent live event.
At the recent event in Montgomery, AL, Rhodes defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in a Bullrope match. After the bout, Rhodes met up with a young fan named Harrison, who was decked head to toe in a Cody-themed costume. Rhodes was thrilled to meet the young fan, and was relieved to learn that Harrison’s favorite wrestler is none other than Cody himself. You can check out the heartwarming interaction below.
Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes was the plan for the Undisputed Universal Title match at WrestleMania 40. That would have seen Rhodes return a year after his Mania 39 loss to face Reigns again. After The Rock returned to the picture, that brought a big possible change.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that, “Reigns’ opponent is expected to be either The Rock or Rhodes, or it could be a three-way.”
Roman Reigns’ Match (Exclusive)
While we cannot provide any information about WWE’s final decision for Reigns’ WrestleMania main event match, we can confirm that one of those three options is off the table. A triple threat match is not going to be how they resolve this issue.
A tenured member of the WWE creative team confirmed to me that there will be, “No Triple Threat for Mania.” I was told that the creative team was informed of that last week.
At this time, I am told that The Rock, Roman Reigns, and Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania situation “is being held tight at the highest levels.”
History of The Rock vs Roman Reigns at WrestleMania
The Rock vs Roman Reigns was pencilled in for WrestleMania 37 at SoFi Stadium, but then that event was moved to Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium, because WrestleMania 36 went down in front of zero fans. The pandemic caused Tampa to lose Mania 36, but WWE’s dedication to Florida brought them back for a show of shows in front of live fans the next year.
The big cousin vs cousin main event was then tabled after I was told The Rock was a “virtual lock.”
The Rock later confirmed on the Pat McAfee Show that he was very close to having that match against Roman on the grandest stage of them all, but things changed.
“The Rock headlining WrestleMania with Roman Reigns, SoFi Stadium, that was locked. We were doing it. But let me just tell you, so about the beginning of 2022, Nick Khan, very good friend, he’s the man, he was very instrumental in bringing Vince and I together. We all flew to LA, we met, we sat. This was the beginning of 2022. We broke out the Teremana, we toasted life, we toasted the business we love, and about an hour later, we started talking about the potential of what this match could be between myself and Roman Reigns headlining WrestleMania at SoFi.”
The Royal Rumble event on January 27th will likely answer more than a few questions about what WWE is planning for WrestleMania 40. Don’t count on a triple threat match, but the Tribal Chief is practically guaranteed to have a big match at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field.
The richest prize in WWE could be decided in a triple-threat at WrestleMania 40, featuring some of the biggest stars of the company’s past and present.
WWE WrestleMania 40 will take place on April 6, and April 7, marking the fourth two-night event in the show’s history. For Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, it will mark his fourth WrestleMania in a row during the same title reign (should he retain at next week’s Royal Rumble). Reigns captured the title at Payback 2020 and his WrestleMania defense has seen him best Edge & Daniel Bryan (in 2021), Brock Lesnar (in 2022), and Cody Rhodes last year.
Two Worthy Contenders
Up until recently, it seemed destined that Rhodes would challenge (and dethrone) Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40, finishing his story in the process. Many have speculated that Rhodes’ heartbreaking loss at WrestleMania 39 happened so that his big moment (and the end of Reigns’ historic Undisputed WWE Universal Championship reign) would happen on the 40th-anniversary milestone.
While we don’t know who Roman Reigns will face at WrestleMania, it will be either The Rock or Cody Rhodes, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports. WWE have yet to make up their mind about the match. The report adds that WWE is also considering a triple threat between the three men.
Rhodes will enter the Men’s Royal Rumble match next week, a bout he won in 2023. The same show will see Reigns defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against LA Knight, AJ Styles, and Randy Orton. Despite rumors of The Rock appearing at next month’s Elimination Chamber: Perthy event, the Great One is not scheduled for the Australian PLE.
Though his long-awaited win over Roman Reigns appears to be slipping away, Cody Rhodes remains defiant that he can stand up to any WWE Superstar put in front of him. The American Nightmare made that clear when speaking with SI.
“The Rock is The Great One–he’s still electrifying. CM Punk is one of the greatest stars in the history of wrestling. I know what I’m up against. Look at the roster–it’s loaded with stars. But that doesn’t bother me. I’m not flinching. I’m not rooting against anyone else, I’m just working to make it happen.”
No matter what comes next for Cody Rhodes, expect the American Nightmare to be his always-generous self…
Cody Rhodes continued his new tradition after this week’s episode of Raw.
The Red Branded Show this week featured a number of strong segments that got people talking. The show opened with a heated confrontation between Drew McIntyre and CM Punk.
The episode also featured a segment between Seth Rollins and Jinder Mahal leading to the announcement of a World Title Match between the two next week.
The matches on the show included bouts such as The Miz taking on JD McDonagh, Kayden Carter and Katana Chance defending the Women’s Tag Team Titles and more.
What Happened After Raw
The main event of this week’s Raw saw Cody Rhodes facing off against Shinsuke Nakamura. Both these stars have been involved in a personal rivalry the last few weeks and due to it, this match had been turned into a street fight.
Neither Nakamura nor Rhodes shied away from using various weapons in this match and they introduced objects such as Kendo Sticks, Tables, and even Nunchucks.
At one point, Nakamura accidentally spit his red mist into the timekeeper’s eyes, originally meant for Cody. This took Cody’s mind out of the match for a minute as the timekeeper was Berkley Ottman, the son of former WWE star Typhoon and a cousin of Rhodes.
At the end of the night however, Cody managed to pick up the victory. He sent Nakamura crashing through a table and then pinned him with a Cross-Rhodes.
The cameras went off air with Cody Rhodes celebrating in the ring. After the show, he continued the tradition he has built recently and the American Nightmare gave away another table to one of the fans in attendance.
Cody Rhodes is a WWE fan favorite, and that is very evident every time fans blare out “WOAH” during his Kingdom entrance. He has consistently gone above and beyond for his Nightmare Family, and that included recently agreeing to be a fan’s best man during a live event in Spokane.
Cody Rhodes Is Going To Be A Best Man
During a WWE live event in Spokane, Washington, Rhodes secured a victory over Shinsuke Nakamura as the two prepare for their January 8th battle on RAW. WWE fans often bring signs to events, but one caught the American Nightmare’s eye.
After the match, Cody Rhodes noticed a fan’s sign requesting him to be the Best Man at their upcoming wedding. Cody readily agreed, which brought a huge pop from the Washington crowd.
Cody Rhodes Explains His Actions
This spontaneous and rather significant gesture surprised many fans who initially doubted Cody Rhodes’ sincerity. In a video released by WWE, Cody Rhodes addressed the fan’s request, confirming his commitment to being the best man at the wedding scheduled for March this year.
‘‘I should have not seen that sign. Turns out, I’m gonna be his Best Man. Now here’s the funny thing, don’t even know his name. He’s gonna send me a DM on Instagram he told me. Man of my word. I’m gonna end up at that guy’s wedding. So congratulations to future guy I’m the Best Man to. Yup, I’m the Best Man.”
Cody Rhodes has his eye on winning the 2024 Royal Rumble match. He wants to finish his story, and make his way to WrestleMania 40. With this kind of connection with fans, it’s evident that he will be a huge babyface favorite when January 27th’s big event in Tropicana Field rolls around.
Cody Rhodes left his position as a top star and EVP for AEW, and he helped build that company in many ways. He also had a big hand in All In, the event which many agree spawned AEW’s creation. It turns out that he also paid for some of that out of his own pocket.
How Ethan Page Ended up on All In Card
Ethan Page played a role in the inaugural All In event back in 2018. The goal of All In was to demonstrate that an independent show could successfully sell 10,000 tickets, and the event’s triumph marked the birth of AEW. After being started by a $10 bet by Dave Meltzer, The Elite took on that challenge in a big way.
According to Ethan Page, he believes that Cody Rhodes personally invested to ensure his participation in this groundbreaking event.
The Bragman Breakdown podcast recently spoke to Ethan Page where he opened up about how he believes he was paid, because it came from Cody Rhodes’ own PayPal account.
“Ultimately, my payment came from his name to my PayPal, so I’m pretty sure I was hand-selected by my friend to get this opportunity. The Bragman Breakdown” podcast. “He also put me in the media scrum… he was definitely looking out. I’ll always deliver on my end to make sure whoever puts their neck out for me is not doing it in a way that is going to get them in trouble. He definitely put his foot forward for me.”
How Ethan Page Ended up in AEW
Despite his involvement in All In, Cody Rhodes didn’t promptly secure a deal for Page with AEW. The former Impact Wrestling star only joined the promotion in 2021, a couple of years after its establishment. Nevertheless, Page doesn’t harbor any resentment towards Rhodes for the delayed signing, as he understands the reasons behind the decision.
Before joining AEW, Ethan Page had discussions with WWE. While acknowledging that Cody Rhodes reached out to him during this period, Page chose not to exploit their friendship to secure a deal with the company. Instead, he opted to sign a contract with AEW after parting ways with Impact Wrestling.
“Ironically, when I was signing with AEW, he told me that he wouldn’t [sign me] because he didn’t want me to be a friend hire, and that’s how I started my career. So I actually respected that. He’s always had my back, and I appreciate him putting me in that because it was such a huge spotlight.”
AEW did not own the rights to the All In show, because ROH helped produce the event. Later on, Tony Khan stated that attaining the rights to the All In event was a big selling point for him buying ROH.
Cody Rhodes may be raking up records and merchandise sales in WWE, as he tries to finish his story. Ethan Page is still in AEW, but he will never forget about everything the American Nightmare did for him.
Cody Rhodes is focused on ‘finishing the story’ and becoming Undisputed WWE Universal Champion but will make time out of his schedule to be a fan’s Best Man.
At a WWE live event in Spokane, Washington, Rhodes picked up a victory over Shinsuke Nakamura. After the match, Rhodes spotted a fan’s sign, asking the American Nightmare to be the Best Man at their upcoming wedding. Cody agreed, much to the delight of the Washington crowd.
No lie… @CodyRhodes is the realest human being of all time!! A fan had a sign that asked him to be his best man. Cody agreed!! He’s gonna be a fan’s best man!!! Talk about making memories!!!#WWESpokanepic.twitter.com/mRCfJwInm9
Cody Rhodes has ensured that a club of young wrestling fans will be at WrestleMania 40 when the Showcase of the Immortals comes to Philadelphia this August.
The Wrestling Club is a group organized by Victor Taylor Perry at KIPP AMP Middle School In Brooklyn, New York. The kids gather to watch wrestling from various promotions, discuss the matches they’ve seen and share their collective love for the industry. The Wrestling Club has proven to be quite popular online and has been visited by the likes of Kenny Omega, FTR, Big E, Shelton Benjamin, Titus O’Neil, and AJ Styles.
Earlier today, WWE Superstars made a special surprise visit to The Wrestling Club at Brooklyn’s Kipp Amp Middle School for a Black History Month Panel! ?@wallflowerperrypic.twitter.com/n40uP4fLlD
Like any WWE fan, the Wrestling Club dreams of one day attending a WrestleMania. In November, Perry set up a fund that people could donate to that would go towards making this dream a reality. This week, Cody Rhodes decided to make those dreams come true and revealed that he has paid for the tickets and hotels for the club.
I could buy a bunch of popcorn or I could just tell ya’ ?
WWE WrestleMania 40 will take place on April 6, and April 7, marking the fifth two-night WrestleMania; a format that debuted during the Covid-19 pandemic. This will be the second WrestleMania to be hosted in the city of Brotherly Love, following on from WrestleMania 15 in 1999.
No matches have been confirmed for the show, and questions remain as to Cody Rhodes’ involvement with the event. While many predicted that Cody would challenge Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns once more, that may no longer be the case. On this week’s Raw, The Rock teased coming for Reigns’ spot as Head of the Table.
Cody Rhodes is a top draw for WWE, and he realizes that. He has immense popularity among fans, and The American Nightmare wants to fulfill all of his booking obligations, even if that means he must fight illness to make it. His commitment to going the extra mile for his supporters is evident.
During the WWE live event in Place Bell, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Rhodes on December 28th, Cody Rhodes engaged in a Last Man Standing Match against Damian Priest. He won that match, but fans had no idea what Cody was really going through.
Cody Rhodes jumped on X to share that moments before his entrance, he was throwing up. This vomit episode was apparently so violent that he lost some body weight in the process.
Fun fact/and an overshare – I vomited what felt like half my body weight 30 seconds before my music hit ha.
Thank you Montreal for lifting me up to be able to fight!
Fun fact/and an overshare – I vomited what felt like half my body weight 30 seconds before my music hit ha
This incident wasn’t the only instance of Cody Rhodes demonstrating his dedication. The American Nightmare brings it every time he can make it to the ring, no matter how he’s feeling.
Cody Rhodes already claimed a spot in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. We will have to see if he wins the big match, but it wouldn’t be the worst bet someone could make right now.
Despite facing the challenge of vomiting heavily just before the match, Rhodes didn’t back down. Hopefully, he is able to get over that stomach issue so it doesn’t become a long term problem.
In preparation for the company’s next premium live event, Rhodes is in fantastic shape and motivated to win the Royal Rumble Match for the second time.
Unfortunately for “The American Nightmare,” he was unsuccessful in defeating Reigns and has to rebound in the 2024 Royal Rumble Match. Reigns and his “Wise Man” Paul Heyman refuse to give Rhodes a rematch, which has given the “babyface” added motivation to win the battle royal.
His recent physical appearance is promising for Rhodes’ fans as he looks to stay healthy and attempt to become a two-time Royal Rumble Match winner.
The Obstacles Cody Rhodes Has To Face Heading Into The 2024 Royal Rumble Match
Although Rhodes looks incredible and is hungry to win the Royal Rumble Match, he has some obstacles. Besides having to eliminate 29 other wrestlers, he is also in an ongoing feud with Nakamura.
The former NXT Champion is also looking to win the Royal Rumble Match for the second time and ensure Rhodes doesn’t. Nakamura is similar to Rhodes, who won the Men’s Royal Rumble Match in 2018 but didn’t win the WWE Championship. Nakamura has shared that “The American Nightmare” ambition to win next year’s match inspired him to be victorious.
Image Credit: WWE
The Japanese superstar will try to stand in Rhodes’s way to ensure that he loses seemingly by any means.
Another star Rhodes has to look out for is CM Punk, who wants to win his first Royal Rumble Match. Punk announced on the December 11 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw that he would compete in next year’s match. The former WWE Champion has momentum and fans behind him, as he will also try to ruin Rhodes’s chances.
“The American Nightmare” has many obstacles standing in front of him. However, he is physically ready and confident he will be the main event at WrestleMania again.
WWE has made history in Madison Square Garden many times in the past. They ran the famous venue on December 26th, and their trend of historic moments continued. The event was already set to be memorable for many reasons, but they also broke a financial record.
According to Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select, the December 26th Madison Square Garden live event set a massive record. It was the highest-grossing non-televised domestic WWE event ever.
Internal WWE live events reports claim that WWE’s live event in Madison Square Garden was sold out. The event was said to be the highest grossing domestic non-televised event of all-time for WWE.
WWE MSG 12/26 Results:
The event included four championship matches, concluding with the main event between Drew McIntyre and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.
In the opening match of the night, Becky Lynch defeated Zoey Stark. Then, Kofi Kingston beat Ludwig Kaiser, and the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships match saw Kayden Carter & Katana Chance successfully defend against Chelsea Green & Piper Niven.
Omos, accompanied by MVP, and he beat against R-Truth. In the WWE Women’s World Championship Triple Threat Match, Rhea Ripley defended her title by defeating Ivy Nile & Shayna Baszler.
The Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships remained with Judgment Day after they defeated Jey Uso & Sami Zayn. That match marked Sami’s return to in-ring action after a short hiatus.
CM Punk secured a win against Dominik Mysterio. Rhea Ripley was with Dirty Dominik during the match, and it also marked Punk’s first WWE match since 2014.
Ricochet beat Bronson Reed. Then, Cody Rhodes beat Shinsuke Nakamura in a bull rope match. The final match of the night was for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in a No-DQ Match, where Seth Rollins successfully defended his title against Drew McIntyre.
WWE Raw Superstar Cody Rhodes was in an especially generous mood as one very lucky young fan found out on Christmas Day.
On Twitter, a fan named Kenny shared that they had sold a figure of the American Nightmare to another fan, who was buying the toy as a gift for their seven-year-old child. Kenny asked if Rhodes could send a signed photo to make the child’s Christmas extra special.
Hey @CodyRhodes I had an extra figure laying around which I sold to this gentleman a few mins ago on eBay.
Is there ANY way, we could possibly get him an autograph or something mailed and surprise his 7 y/o.
In an update, Kenny shared that Cody went the extra mile to make the seven-year-olds Christmas extra special. We don’t know if Cody sent a signed photo, but he sent the kid named Carson a signed Cody Rhodes authentic weight belt. The father would tell Kenny that he had made Carson’s day.
Update: We did it guys!!! Cody Rhodes was so gracious and sent this little Nightmare here a signed belt!!!
Even better? In speaking to his father? As fate would have it? He went through the same exact year that I am going through in terms of fighting for his child and… https://t.co/RyT0TCzgcXpic.twitter.com/uIRJsAIvhL
Cody Rhodes may have failed to finish the story at WrestleMania 39 earlier this year, but he and Roman Reigns delivered WWE’s best match of the year.
Earlier this month, WWE kicked off a fan-voted tournament to see what was the best match of the year. The tournament featured the following matches:
SummerSlam: Cody Rhodes vs Brock Lesnar
WrestleMania 39: Rey Mysterio vs Dominik Mysterio
Payback: Trish Stratus vs Becky Lynch
WrestleMania 39: Fatal Four-Way Men’s Tag Team Match
Monday Night RAW: Chad Gable vs Gunther
WrestleMania 39: Rhea Ripley vs Charlotte Flair
Money In The Bank: The Usos vs Solo Sikoa and Roman Reigns
WrestleMania 39: Drew McIntyre vs Gunther vs Sheamus
Backlash: Bad Bunny vs Damian Priest
NXT Deadline: Men’s Iron Survivor Match
WrestleMania 39: Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes
Crown Jewel: Seth Rollins vs Drew McIntyre
Backlash: IYO Sky vs Bianca Belair
Elimination Chamber: Sami Zayn vs Roman Reigns
WrestleMania 39: The Usos vs Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens
NXT No Mercy: Carmelo Hayes vs Ilja Dragunov
In the end, the finals saw two matches featuring WWE’s American Nightmare. The finals were between Rhodes’ WrestleMania 39 match with Reigns and his SummerSlam 2023 showdown with Brock Lesnar.
What’s Next?
Cody Rhodes is currently feuding with Shinsuke Nakamura, who has been able to mist Rhodes multiple times. Cody will compete in next month’s Men’s Royal Rumble match. If he wins, Cody will become the fourth man to win back-to-back Royal Rumble matches. Win or lose, many expect Rhodes will challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. WWE’s annual Showcase of the Immortals will take place in April from Philadelphia, PA.
Cody Rhodes is going to be staying with WWE for many years to come. Click here to find out more.
Cody Rhodes is one of WWE’s biggest names at this point, and his Kingdom entrance music makes fans yell “WOAH!” all around the world. Now, we have good news for those fans who love seeing the American Nightmare in a WWE ring.
Cody Rhodes Contract Update
It was previously reported that WWE was aiming to secure Cody Rhodes with a new contract. That contract was said to be a big-money deal as well.
While the specific details of the new contract, such as its length and financial terms, remain unknown, Dave Meltzer drew parallels to Charlotte Flair’s situation. The Queen’s contract extension was revealed months after the fact, and it was reportedly for huge money.
Meanwhile, Fightful has been reporting that WWE officials are eager to lock Cody in to a new longterm deal. In response to Dave Meltzer claiming Cody re-signed months ago, Sean Ross Sapp’s sources claim that WWE did in fact send Cody a new contract back in October, but he’s yet to put pen to paper.
Since his return to WWE, Cody Rhodes has already won a Royal Rumble match, which secured him a main event match spot against Roman Reigns for the Undisputed Universal Title at WrestleMania 39. Rhodes did not win that match, but he is still on a mission to finish his story.
Cody Rhodes’ WWE Return
In 2019, Cody Rhodes played a significant role in establishing AEW, as he contributed greatly to the company’s foundation. However, in February 2022, the AEW EVP Cody Rhodes and his wife, Brandi Rhodes, decided not to renew their contracts with the company.
Following their departure from AEW, Cody Rhodes signed a deal with WWE. That set him up for a surprise return, that so many saw coming, at WrestleMania 38. He was Seth Rollins’ unannounced opponent for that show, and he won his return match, ending a six-year absence from WWE.
UPDATE: Contradictory Report On Cody Rhodes’ WWE Contract
Sean Ross Sapp reported an update on Fightful Select. It was noted that, after speaking to a source with direct ties to Cody Rhodes that, “Their claim is that the approach and initial offer from WWE was made in October, but no deal was signed at that point. One is expected to be signed, and an agreement is in place, we’re told.”
It was further noted that,“several wrestlers that were also under the impression Rhodes had re-signed, or was going to imminently.“
WWE has a big 2024 ahead for the company, complete with shiny new television deals, and plenty of important events. Triple H wants to make sure that key people don’t leave in the process.
Cody Rhodes WWE Contract News
Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that “WWE is interested in extending another contract, and it’s a major one.” They have zeroed in on locking Cody Rhodes down with a longer deal.
Sources have confirmed to Fightful that WWE has been engaged in talks with Cody Rhodes about a multi-year contract extension. Based on what we’re told, WWE is trying to lock him down long term. Of late, WWE has extended the contracts of Bayley, Charlotte Flair, Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio. Rhodes would be a monumental re-signing for the the company.
No terms of the contract with Cody Rhodes were reported, but it was noted that The American Nightmare is expected to receive “a sizeable raise whenever the deal does occur.”
The report also noted that Cody Rhodes bought a new bus for himself around Thanksgiving. That led some in the company to assume that a new deal was already signed, but it hasn’t been finalized yet.
More WWE Contract News
WWE has a few big contracts running up in 2024. Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins all have expiring deals. The company also closed out 2023 by securing a few big contracts.
Charlotte Flair recently signed a hefty new contract. Also, Dominik Mysterio inked a new deal, as did his father, Rey Mysterio. WWE doesn’t want any Superstar entering the free agency pool that they want to keep around. Obviously, they don’t want Cody Rhodes going anywhere, either.
The American Nightmare was in an especially generous mood after this week’s episode of WWE Monday Night Raw went off the air.
This week’s episode of the Red brand was the final live show for the year, as next week’s Raw will be a compilation show celebrating the best of 2023. This week’s Raw saw the continuation of Seth Rollins’s feud with Drew McIntyre ahead of their pair’s World Heavyweight Championship match on the ‘Day 1’ episode of Raw. Katana Chance & Kayden Carter won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships this week, ending the reign of Chelsea Green and Piper Niven.
Cody Rhodes at Monday Night Raw
The December 18, 2023, episode of Raw was not a good one for Cody Rhodes, who continues to be the victim of mind games by Shinsuke Nakamura. The Japanese Superstar was in a festive mood and read his poem ‘The American Nightmare Before Christmas, which featured several insults at Cody, including:
“You b*stard, you cancer, You prancer you nitwit. You’re vomit, you’re stupid. Your father was inbred.”
Rhodes would attack Nakamura for these comments, leading to a brawl that would be broken up by security.
Cody Rhodes After Monday Night Raw
Despite this interaction with Nakamura, Rhodes was in a much better mood after this week’s Raw went off the air. In an off-air segment, Rhodes gifted an entire Christmas tree to a fan at ringside.
This isn’t the first time Rhodes has given something away after a WWE show. In the past, the American Nightmare has given away parts of a table broken during a stipulation match.
