Fans at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale were in for a treat after this week’s episode of WWE Monday Night Raw went off the air. The show served as the go-home show for Survivor Series: WarGames, as well as the introduction of the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. In the main event, Bianca Belair defeated Nia Jax to give the EST’s team the entry-order advantage this weekend inside WarGames.
The post-show antics at this week’s Raw saw not one but two championships on the line. First up, LA Knight retained the United States Championship against Santos Escobar. Knight will defend the title against Shinsuke Nakamura at Survivor Series: WarGames, a match made official during Raw.
— Justin David Kish • Sports Journalist (@JustinDavidKish) November 26, 2024
Up next, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes put his title on the line against Solo Sikoa in a Street Fight. Once again, Rhodes stood tall over the leader of The Bloodline and sent the crowd home happy.
DARK MATCH – Solo Sikoa makes his entrance for the main event street fight for the WWE Undisputed Championship vs. Cody Rhodes. #WWE#WWERawpic.twitter.com/WTRz14uvJ9
— Justin David Kish • Sports Journalist (@JustinDavidKish) November 26, 2024
WWE taped the November 29 episode of SmackDown after the November 22 episode of the show this week from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. They had the Prime-branded canvas for the second taping. Below are the complete spoiler results:
Triple Threat Women’s US Title Tournament Match – Michin def. Piper Niven and Lash Legend: Legend replaced Jade Cargill in the match after the former AEW star was attacked by an unknown assailant this week. Chelsea Green was at the ringside for Niven and she attacked Michin during the bout. B-Fab came out to even the odds, allowing Michin to finally pick up the victory.
Singles Match – Shinsuke Nakamura def. Andrade: Nakamura entered with a new variation of his theme song. He defeated Andrade with a Kinshasa. US Champion LA Knight tried to attack the Japanese star after the bout but Nakamura sprayed black mist into his eyes.
Singles Match – Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes def. Carmelo Hayes: This match was made official after a backstage confrontation between the two at this week’s show. Rhodes beat Melo with a Cross Rhodes.
WarGames Segment: Bianca Belair, Naomi, Bayley, Iyo Sky, and Rhea Ripley all came out to promote the Women’s WarGames match. Bayley was there replacing Cargill into Ripley’s WarGames team. Rhea cut a promo before Liv Morgan, Nia Jax, Raquel Rodriguez, Tiffany Stratton, and Candice LeRae came out. Morgan said that it was suspicious for Bayley to join the team right after Jade was taken out. The two teams then got into a brawl before the security ran down to break the fight up.
Singles Match For Advantage In Men’s WarGames – Jacob Fatu def. Jey Uso: Fatu won the match with a springboard moonsault to get the advantage for his team.
WWE also taped a Speed match where Zelina Vega beat Chelsea Green in between the two SmackDown episodes. The advance taping will allow the talents to stay home for the Thanksgiving holiday instead of traveling.
Cody Rhodes may be the WWE Champion and Roman Reigns may be the OTC, but neither star can compare to the social media presence of ‘The Rizzler.’ The alter ego of child social media personality Christian Joseph, The Rizzler has been a viral sensation in 2024, and as seen in the Google Trends chart below, is dominating WWE’s two top Superstars.
Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns fighting over #2 while the 7 year old Rizzler is the Google search champion
The Rizzler’s viral influence is being felt in the world of professional wrestling, as are the similarly popular Costco Guys. At this weekend’s AEW Full Gear pay-per-view, The Rizzler will serve as the special guest timekeeper when A.J. Befumo takes on QT Marshall.
Who Is The Rizzler?
The Rizzler is a seven-year-old social media sensation who has exploded onto the scene in 2024. Currently, The Rizzler has amassed over 750,000 followers on Instagram and has surpassed 1.3 million followers on TikTok.
The popularity of The Rizzler, the Costco Guys, and others goes to show how celebrity culture has changed, and how one doesn’t need to be on TV each week like Rhodes and Reigns to become a globally-recognizable name. WWE is well aware of this, as Logan Paul was a huge name with his online videos before he stepped foot in the ring.
Whether The Rizzler has a greater role to play at AEW Full Gear beyond his timekeeping duties, that remains to be seen. But no matter what happens at this weekend’s pay-per-view, expect The Rizzler’s involvement to generate a ton of buzz on social media.
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, along with WWE Raw stars Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch, attended the premiere of Moana 2 at the Lanik?honua Cultural Institute in Kapolei, Hawaii on November 21.
The reason behind so many wrestling stars at the premiere? Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson reprised his role as Maui in the film, the shapeshifting demigod who accompanies Moana on her journey.
Moana 2 is set to release in theatres on November 27, but premieres are being held in various locations. In Hawaii, Cody Rhodes attended the event with his wife Brandi and their three-year-old daughter, Liberty. You can check out the family’s photos below:
Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins were also there with their four-year-old daughter, Roux. WWE President Nick Khan was in attendance too, and so was Disney CEO Bob Iger. The Rock, who is currently filming the live-action Moana in Hawaii, was present at the screening.
During the premiere, Johnson shared a touching moment with his mother, Ata, and showcased a traditional dance that highlighted the cultural and family themes central to the Moana films.
Though the live-action Moana film is still years away (set for July 2026), a sneak peek of the live-action version of Maui, played by Johnson, was recently shown.
In related news, Cody Rhodes recently commented on The Rock’s role at WrestleMania 41, suggesting he could play a key part in the event. Meanwhile, Seth Rollins was rumored to appear in the latest trailer for Captain America: Brave New World, though he denied the speculation, saying the masked character who resembled him was not him.
WWE has unveiled its list of the top merchandise sellers for 2024, highlighting the performers who engaged fans both in the ring and at the merchandise stands. Leading the pack is Cody Rhodes, whose “American Nightmare” branding continues to resonate strongly with WWE’s audience.
Second place belongs to Roman Reigns, the face of the “Bloodline” storyline and a dominant figure in WWE’s programming. Making a splash in third is the returning CM Punk, whose surprise comeback reignited interest from his devoted fanbase.
The Top 10 List
Cody Rhodes
Roman Reigns
CM Punk
Jey Uso
John Cena
Liv Morgan
Rhea Ripley
LA Knight
Randy Orton
Damian Priest
Other names rounding out the list include Jey Uso, whose breakout year solidified his status as a solo star, and perennial favorite John Cena, whose limited appearances still drive significant sales. Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley represent the women’s division.
US Champion LA Knight, “The Viper” Randy Orton, and the Judgment Day’s Damian Priest also made the cut, showing a mix of established veterans and surging new talent. This diverse list underscores WWE’s ability to create marketable stars across all divisions.
Pharaoh is not worried about Larry outdrawing him in T-shirt sales because he has more products on the shelf.
Cody Rhodes’ dog Pharaoh has made many wrestling appearances alongside the current Undisputed Champion over the years in different companies. While CM Punk’s Larry has recently become a viral sensation after being featured in several WWE social media videos in the last few months.
The new-found stardom has led to Larry getting his own merchandise on WWE shop. His T-shirt specifically is said to be outdrawing even many wrestling legends in sales.
Pharoh Thinks He Is The Bigger Star
The American Nightmare was asked about the rumors of Larry’s T-shirt sales and how Pharoh feels about it in a new interview with Adrian Hernandez. Rhodes explained that Pharoh is not worried.
He suggested that Pharaoh finds himself to be the biggest star still with more number of products available to buy, including things like his much-loved plush toy:
“No I don’t think that’s a rumor. So Pharoh has more, this going to sound so inside, he has more SKUs on the shelf. He’s got a couple shirts, the plushes. So Larry is killing it. He should be [proud].
We love Larry in our house. CM Punk loves Pharaoh. But Larry’s not there yet. I don’t doubt Larry’s going to get there. We’re talking about dogs alright, it’s just dogs. Larry’s on his way.”
While Pharaoh might have more products on the shelf at the moment, Larry seems to be coming for his spot. With his own newly launched plush toy, the Punk clan member is definitely targeting the #1 position and Pharaoh will have to work extra hard if he wants to maintain his status in the ever-competitive world of pro wrestling.
Apart from this, Cody Rhodes also talked about things such as rumors of Rock’s WrestleMania 41 status, his Extreme Rules match with Big Show and more. You can check out his full interview below:
The Rock will have a key role to play at WrestleMania 41 next April, whether he’s in the ring or not, so says WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. Speaking to Adrian Hernandez at ComplexCon, Rhodes addressed the possibility of the Final Boss being involved in next year’s two-night spectacle which will take place from Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.
“Whether he’s in the ring or not, he is very much still involved with what happens at 41. I know when he comes back, I know who he’ll come looking for, and I know what to expect.”
Rhodes’ comments come one month after a report that Johnson had informed WWE that he’d be too busy to make WrestleMania due to his Hollywood commitments. Johnson himself refuted the claim with some choice language on his Instagram.
The Rock calls bullshit on the Meltzer report that he told #WWE he won’t be at WrestleMania 41 pic.twitter.com/wfyhe3RkeZ
Whether The Rock appears or not, another name fans could see next April is Steve Austin, who missed this year’s festivities in Philadelphia. During the interview, Rhodes hoped that the Rattlesnake will be around for WrestleMania 41.
“The invitation’s there. He’s also not far, I mean, we could helicopter him 3 hours away, Great American Bash style… I just would like him to be around to see how we’re doing…. I hope he’s proud of all of us because he really has set the table for us.”
Whether he’s in the ring or not, fans can expect The Rock to play a pivotal role in next year’s Showcase of the Immortals, while Rhodes intends to headline the event for the fourth time. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on Cody Rhodes and The Rock as their paths seem destined to cross next April in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is set to join ESPN’s College GameDay as the guest picker this weekend. A dedicated fan of the Georgia Bulldogs, Rhodes will appear on the show in Athens, where GameDay is stationed for the week’s college football coverage. This guest appearance follows ESPN’s tradition of featuring prominent figures connected to the hosting location.
The American Nightmare ? College GameDay Guest Picker??@WWE Superstar and Georgia fan @CodyRhodes is our guest picker in Athens this weekend! pic.twitter.com/PN1Qupj5jH
WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi recently reckoned that his son, Solo Sikoa could be the one to dethrone WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes.
Solo Sikoa recently pinned Roman Reigns to earn the victory for his team comprising Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga in the 6-man tag team match at WWE Crown Jewel PLE. It seems that bigger things are in store for his future, given that he pinned ‘OTC.’
On his Off The Top podcast, Rikishi reflected on Solo Sikoa’s massive moment. He believes WWE is pushing him to the next level and he could be the one to defeat Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. He said:
“Like I mentioned [on] the last podcast we had, Solo’s a made man. For that to happen, there’s definitely, we see plans within this kid [of] what can be the next level for him. We talked about, does he need a belt? Well, after this [pin] on Roman, I can see maybe Solo being the one to take it off of Cody.”
Rikishi feels now that Solo has defeated the GOAT, he could be considered the GOAT-slayer. He said:
“I talked about maybe Roman will come back and take it off of Cody. But after seeing that, you beat the GOAT. I believe it was two or three spikes, but now, it’s like okay, you beat the GOAT, now you’re considered the GOAT. The GOAT-slayer. So who knows?”
At the upcoming WWE Survivor Series: WarGames, The Original Bloodline (Roman Reigns, The Usos & Sami Zayn) will face The New Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa & Jacob Fatu) in a WarGames match.
A trademark dispute has erupted between punk rock frontman Wesley Eisold and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes over the use of the name “American Nightmare.” Eisold, who leads the Boston-based hardcore punk band American Nightmare, filed a lawsuit in California federal court alleging Rhodes violated their previous trademark agreement.
The lawsuit seeks damages of at least $900,000 and alleges that WWE and Fanatics, Rhodes’ merchandise partners, intentionally caused the breach of the settlement agreement. Rhodes has until November 15 to respond to the lawsuit.
The conflict stems from an earlier settlement between the two parties after Rhodes attempted to trademark “The American Nightmare” for his wrestling persona. Eisold, who had already secured the “American Nightmare” trademark, reached an agreement allowing Rhodes to use the name on merchandise under specific conditions.
The deal required Rhodes to prominently display his name, likeness, or wrestling imagery at 75% or larger size alongside the phrase.
Two examples of “American Nightmare” band artwork in the middle, along with WWE’s official “American Nightmare” apparel. (Image courtesy of U.S. District Court)
However, Eisold claims Rhodes has “blatantly” breached this agreement by selling merchandise featuring “American Nightmare” without the required wrestling elements. The lawsuit alleges this has caused significant confusion among both fanbases, with fans accidentally purchasing merchandise intended for the other party.
Eisold, who co-founded American Nightmare in 1999, has built a significant presence in the punk rock scene over two decades. His band operates primarily out of Los Angeles, where they rehearse, record, and maintain their equipment. Meanwhile, Rhodes, who adopted the moniker as a tribute to his father Dusty Rhodes, currently holds the prestigious Undisputed WWE Champion title.
WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes recently opened up on possibly working in a non-wrestling capacity in the company.
‘The American Nightmare’ has been a fan-favorite ever since he returned back to the company. After clinching the ultimate prize in the company at this year’s WrestleMania, he has been having a hectic schedule with regular appearances on the weekly WWE shows as well as media appearances. He has embraced the role of a leader, something which he also desires in a non-wrestling capacity.
Cody Rhodes told Cathy Kelley on WWE YouTube, that he was not fully prepared for. He has revealed that he has to attend corporate meetings and events which he is not comfortable with but he has to be involved.
“There are some things that come with it that were surprising to me. It might sound cool, it might sound cheesy. There is an element of leadership involved that they don’t say, they just kind of plug you in. You’re attending corporate meetings and events that you would typically be out of your depth at, and you’re supposed to be there and be on.”
Rhodes said that he is excited about this new challenge. He recalled that he had leadership role in AEW before heading back to WWE. The Undisputed WWE Champion felt that he failed in that role but he is working to improve. He also sees his future with WWE which is beyond competing in the ring.
“That’s something that has really excited me. In the past, I felt like when I had a leadership role in wrestling, I didn’t do well with it. I feel like I failed with it, but I knew why perhaps I failed with it. This has been an opportunity to plug back in. Maybe there is a future beyond the actual wrestling with WWE in a different setting. That’s something I’ve been thinking about lately.”
Several WWE stars have welcomed the opportunity of becoming on-screen authority role or commentary roles. With Cody Rhodes having experience serving as an EVP in AEW, there is a huge possibility that we might witness him in the management role sometime down the road in WWE as well.
At Saturday’s WWE Crown Jewel Premium Live Event, WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther will lock horns to crown the new WWE Crown Jewel Champion.
At WWE Crown Jewel, Cody Rhodes and Liv Morgan made history as the inaugural winners of the Men’s and Women’s Crown Jewel Championships. While the titles will remain at the WWE Experience in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the two champions have now been presented with their official championship rings.
The Game described these rings as akin to Superbowl rings, and like the Crown Jewel titles, is emblazoned with jewels.
The Crown Jewel Championship Rings is a brand-new kind of accolade in WWE though it isn’t the first ring of its kind in wrestling. In AEW, MJF has repeatedly won the Dynamite Diamond Ring, which he has used in matches. It remains to be seen if Rhodes or Morgan add more rings to their collection in the coming years, but the pair will go down in the history books as the first-ever Crown Jewel Champions.
The finish of the match saw Rhodes attempt a Super Cody Cutter, only for GUNTHER to catch him in attempted Sleeper hold. Rhodes however, was able to counter with a roll-up to get the historic win.
WWE Crown Jewel is taking place from the Mohammad Abdo Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The card for the show is as follows:
Cody Rhodes Vs. GUNTHER (WWE Crown Jewel Championship)
Nia Jax Vs. Liv Morgan (WWE Women’s Crown Jewel Championship)
Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs. Bronson Reed
Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens
LA Knight (c) vs. Andrade vs. Carmelo Hayes (WWE U.S. Championship)
Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair (c) vs. Damage CTRL (Kairi Sane and Iyo Sky) vs. Meta-Four (Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson) vs. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven (WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship)
Roman Reigns and The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) vs. The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga) (with Tonga Loa)
As Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes is kept busy every week, both in the ring and in various media appearances for the company. Rhodes is a regular at WWE Premium Live Events and has been since his return from injury in January 2023, but now the American Nightmare could be set to miss one of WWE’s biggest annual events.
On X, Rhodes shared his schedule for November which will see him appear on TV and also take part in WWE’s upcoming tour of the United Kingdom. While Rhodes will be busy, the Undisputed WWE Champion isn’t listed to appear at Survivor Series on November 30.
Survivor Series: WarGames 2024 will take place at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Rhodes was a part of last year’s event, where he led his team to victory against The Judgment Day and Drew McIntyre. Rhodes missed the previous year’s event due to his torn pectoral injury.
In the meantime, Rhodes will be a part of WWE Crown Jewel later today where he will take on World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER. The winner will not only receive the Men’s Crown Jewel Championship but also a Super Bowl-esque championship ring. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest from Cody Rhodes and his future appearances for WWE later this month.
Cody Rhodes appeared on the Flagrant podcast this week. the Undisputed WWE Champion spoke with hosts Andrew Schulz and Akaash Singh ahead of Crown Jewel, where he’s scheduled to battle Gunther for the Men’s Crown Jewel Championship.
Here are some highlights of what the American Nightmare said about:
His WWE Contract: The contract that Cody signed when he returned to WWE before WrestleMania 38 was worth 15 times more than what he was making when he left the company in 2016.
Brandi and Tony Khan: There were “so many factors” that went into his decision to leave AEW and return to WWE. It has nothing to do with his wife Brandi’s relationship with AEW President Tony Khan, despite rumors to the contrary. Cody confided that his relationship with (at least some of) his AEW co-founders had soured, and felt it was best to depart in order to preserve their longterm relationships.
“It was just a situation that felt icky. This is how I look at it in the end, I had really great memories with all of them, all the way back to All In. I had a really beautiful experience for a while, and I wanted to keep the memories good.”
Cody Rhodes on leaving AEW
Vince McMahon’s Role in His Return: Cody revealed how Vince McMahon learned of his departure from AEW not being a storyline but real, leading to McMahon making a personal visit to his home in Atlanta to get him signed.
The ‘Cody Lie’: There was a mention of a “Cody Lie,” a self-aware acknowledgment of how ‘charming’ he can be, and pro wrestling blurring the lines between fact and fiction.
Career Journey: He spoke about his evolution from being underutilized as Stardust, his time at AEW where he helped establish the company, to returning to WWE. He highlighted the financial gamble he took when leaving WWE, how he and his wife Brandi managed during lean times, and his motivation to honor his father Dusty Rhodes’ legacy.
Other topics discussed include the emotional impact of becoming a father, the process of putting together wrestling matches are put together and the powere of connecting with the audience through genuine moments.
As his nickname suggests, Conor McGregor is ‘notorious’ in the world of UFC and has never shied from the spotlight, for better or worse. Over the years, much has been said about McGregor joining WWE, and now the Irish fighter is ready to meet with Cody Rhodes.
On X, McGregor shared a video of Rhodes and MMA commenter The Schmo enjoying a bottle of Proper No. 12 whisky, McGregor’s own brand. McGregor was pleased to see the pair display “class personified” and told Rhodes that the pair will see each other soon.
The Schmo and the undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes enjoying themselves some smooth @ProperWhiskey! CLASS PERSONIFIED! Love it Cody, see you soon ? pic.twitter.com/UnU6qum8bU
McGregor’s comment comes after Rhodes said he supported the idea of the Notorious One making the move from MMA to WWE. On The Schmo podcast, Rhodes said that he’d love to see McGregor “dip his toes” into wrestling and believes he’d be “great” at it.
While McGregor would be a huge get for WWE, there are factors working against a deal being reached. At 36, McGregor is older than the typical WWE signing, and any negotiations would certainly fetch a high asking price that could put WWE off of his services.
McGregor has also found himself in trouble with the law multiple times, including assaulting an older man in the Marble Arch Pub in Dublin in 2019. In 2021, McGregor became the subject of an assault case involving a woman. The matter is scheduled to be heard in Dublin’s High Court on November 5.
The action didn’t stop at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania after this week’s edition of Monday Night Raw went off the air. The show saw the red brand roster continue on the road to WWE Crown Jewel, with a huge six-man tag-team match with Roman Reigns being announced for the November 2, Premium Live Event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
In a dark match after Raw, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes was in action and defeated Carmelo Hayes. After the match, Rhodes spoke to the fans and noticed a fan’s sign that read “I Finished My Cancer Story to See Cody.” The American Nightmare invited the fan into the ring, where they shared a hug while Rhodes gifted them his weight belt.
@CodyRhodes gifted a signed belt to a fan in the crowd after the show tonight who had a sign, “I Finished My Cancer Story to See Cody”. ? This right here is one of the many reasons why he’s the best and my champion. Such a heart of gold. ? #WWEHershey#WWERawpic.twitter.com/IugZ2kbjB9
Rhodes wasn’t the only Superstar to win after this week’s episode of WWE Raw went off the air. In another dark match, U.S. Champion LA Knight defeated Santos Escobar. In an amusing exchange with Lilian Garcia, Knight said the recently returned ring announcer had done a great job announcing his name, but wanted her to pause between the letters L and A.
LA Knight tells Lilian Garcia after #WWERAW how to announce him into the ring ? ?… She initially didn't pause between the L and the A and said them quickly after one another. #WWEpic.twitter.com/yefdeZZImU
Both Knight and Rhodes have major matches this weekend at WWE Crown Jewel. Knight will defend his title against Andrade and Carmelo Hayes while Rhodes will take on GUNTHER to determine the first Men’s Crown Jewel Champion. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from WWE Crown Jewel including breaking news and live results.
Cody Rhodes may have finished his story at WrestleMania 40, but an essential figure in his journey, his older brother, Dustin Rhodes, was notably absent from the final chapters. As the American Nightmare is forging his legacy as Undisputed WWE Champion, Dusty’s oldest first-born son remains an active competitor in AEW and Ring of Honor.
Dustin has taken on various personas throughout his decades-long career, but it’s his work as the iconic Goldust character that Cody believers will secure his spot among wrestling’s legends.
“I think I was 14 years old when Goldust was really hitting his stride on WWE television,” Cody tells The Schmo. “I can certainly say that it was a unique thing to see. My friends had a lot of feelings about what Goldust was doing.”
Cody Rhodes on Goldust
At a time when many wrestlers leaned into their family legacies, Dustin defied expectations. He went all-in with Goldust—an androgynous, gold-painted character who had opponents reeling from mind games before the bell even rang.
“Knowing how much he had subverted expectations, knowing how much he didn’t want to just be a Rhodes, he wanted to be his own thing. I was very proud of Dustin throughout that whole run, what he did, and the lengths he went to do it.”
Cody Rhodes on Goldust
As the mid-90s gave way to the late-90s and society embraced Jerry Springer-style shock value, Goldust stayed at the forefront, pushing boundaries every step of the way. The portrayal of Goldust, in Cody’s view, stands as a testament Dustin’s creative genius deserving of wrestling’s highest honor.
“Goldust was an underrated part of the Attitude Era, certainly somebody worthy of the Hall of Fame.”
At WrestleMania 40, Cody Rhodes finally finished the story and ended the 1,316-day reign of Roman Reigns to become Undisputed WWE Champion. Emotions ran high, as heard from Samantha Irvin, as the show went off the air, but Rhodes has promised something even bigger for next year’s show.
While speaking to The Schmo, Cody was asked about plans for WrestleMania 41, which will take place on April 19, and 20, from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. While the American Nightmare was unsurprisingly hush-hush on specifics, Rhodes promised that the show would eclipse what fans saw this year in Philadelphia.
“The goal is always to top the year before. WrestleMania is like our Super Bowl—it’s the beginning and the end of WWE’s calendar year. It’s the start, the reset, everything. With WrestleMania 40, we finished the story, so now going into WrestleMania 41, we have to raise the bar. Here’s what I’ll say without giving too much away: I think what happens at WrestleMania 41 won’t align with a lot of the rumors out there. It’ll be more unexpected and, without a doubt, it will top WrestleMania 40.”
Cody Rhodes defeated Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40 earlier this year, setting the stage for a potential showdown with The Rock at WrestleMania 41 in 2025. The rivalry gained more traction when The Rock returned at Bad Blood, following a tag team match where Reigns and Rhodes overcame Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa. The Rock counted to three before leaving the arena, teasing further a future match in a live promo on Instagram.
Recently, rumors have surfaced about WWE’s plans for WrestleMania 41. Instead of a one-on-one match between Rhodes and The Rock, WWE might be considering a different path: a triple threat match involving Rhodes, Rock, and Reigns at WrestleMania 41.
Rumor Addressed
While appearing on Vegas Revealed, Rhodes was asked about the rumored triple threat match. He addressed the speculation, saying, “There are so many rumors circulating. It eats up the social feed, all the different rumors of what the matches might be. The hardest thing to do in WWE, sports entertainment, and pro wrestling in general is not to win [the WWE Title]; the hardest thing to do is main event WrestleMania. I don’t care what the rumor is, as long as the rumor is I’m in the main event of WrestleMania. I’m good with it.”
Rhodes went on to tease that fans should expect the unexpected: “What I can say for those who keep an eye on the rumors, I bet you what they get at WrestleMania 41 is unexpected even to them. Even the diehards who feel like they have their finger on the pulse—this one is going to be tough. This one is going to be unexpected but in the best of ways.”
WrestleMania 41 will be a two-night event on April 19 and 20, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Before that, Rhodes will face GUNTHER for the Crown Jewel Title at WWE’s upcoming premium live event next Saturday.
Cody Rhodes wrestled in a first-time-ever match after this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw from Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania went off air.
The Bloodline made their presence felt in the main event of the Red Branded Show this week. The match featured Jey Uso defending the Intercontinental Championship against Bron Breakker.
Solo Sikoa and his disciples first showed up claiming that they wanted to help their cousin. Things went sour quickly however and Fatu in the end took out Jey. This allowed Breakker to pin the former Bloodline member and win the title back.
While the rest of the Bloodline seemingly retreated after this match, Jacob Fatu stayed around. He competed in a Philadelphia Street Fight against Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes after the show went off air.
The Samoan Warewolf took the loss in what was his singles debut for the company. He had previously wrestled only tag team matches since his debut back in June.
The American Nightmare did not appear on the broadcast of the show this week. Though he has invited the World Heavyweight Champion Gunther for a face-to-face confrontation on Friday’s SmackDown.
The Friday Night show may also feature Jey Uso again. The now former champion will be looking for an explanation from his family members about the events of Raw.
Cody Rhodes has opened up about maintaining work-life balance and what his daughter thinks he does for a living.
The Undisputed WWE Champion has taken over the role of the face of WWE since returning to the company in 2022. With Roman Reigns being on a part-time schedule, the American Nightmare is the one who fulfils all the responsibilities falling onto the shoulders of the ‘quarterback’ of the promotion.
The added pressure, however, also means that it’s much harder for him to maintain a balance between his work and personal life. Rhodes opened up about it during an appearance on Watch Fox 57 News, and revealed advice he got from Triple H:
“I think it’s a matter of….I’ve heard my boss and head of creative Triple H say ‘There is no such thing as a work life balance. You’re either working or you’re having the life moment. You’ve got to be committed to whatever it may be.’
With us, my wife having been in the industry herself. She’s really understanding of particularly the champion schedule, all the things that come with it and the fact that we have that.”
Cody Rhodes also revealed that his 3-year-old daughter Liberty doesn’t understand the full scope of his work. According to him, she only knows the business as ‘going to WrestleMania’:
“My three-year-old, she only knows what I do as WrestleMania cause that was the first show she went to. So she’s [like] ‘Going to WrestleMania?’ [I’m like] ‘Yep’ ‘Going to WrestleMania?’ Every week.
For [me] to slowly start to see her uncover the business is going to be unique. Because I don’t know if I know how to explain it to her yet. I don’t know. Right now it’s just colorful lights and entrances. She hasn’t seen a full match yet.”
The WWE Champion is scheduled to compete at the upcoming Crown Jewel PPV from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 2. He will be taking on fellow World Champion Gunther in a rare champion vs champion match.
Since Bad Blood, Kevin Owens has attacked Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton, seemingly payback for Rhodes’ willingness to team Roman Reigns at the PLE. The Prizefighter did not appear during the latest episode of WWE SmackDown, but cast doubt on his future via a video shared to social media.
Earlier this week, Owens said he’d been silenced by WWE and gave the company’s higher-ups until SmackDown to share a video, detailing his side of what’s happened. Taking matters into his own hands, Owens has now shared a video on his own X account, in which he claims Randy betrayed him, not the other way around.
“I would have never done that to you [Orton]. I thought what we had was different. I can’t believe you picked Cody Rhodes over me.”
Owens added that between WWE disrespecting him and Orton’s ‘betrayal’ of the former Universal Champion, he doesn’t know “if or when” he’ll return to WWE TV.
WWE has gone a different way with the presentation of this angle, including relying on fans to record and share Owens’ attack on Rhodes. Similarly, the full footage of Owens’ attack on Orton was first shared by Sports Illustrated, which obtained CCTV footage of the attack. Now, it remains to be seen when Owens will be back on WWE programming (if ever,) as the Prizefighter continues to believe he is the victim of these betrayals. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Kevin Owens, Randy Orton, and the Undisputed WWE Champion.
Cody Rhodes proved once against why he is the face of WWE after the October 18 SmackDown from Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina went off air.
There were two dark matches that took place after the show. The first dark match saw Sami Zayn teaming with The New Day to defeat Pete Dunne and The Judgment Day.
The Undisputed WWE Champion came out for the second dark match. He successfully defended his title against Solo Sikoa in a Columbia Street Fight.
The American Nightmare grabbed the mic after his win but his promo went into an unexpected direction. Rhodes spotted a sign from a cancer survivor in the crowd.
Cody Rhodes then went into the crowd himself to gift his weight belt to the specific fan before he concluded his promo and sent the crowd home happy.
The former AEW star has distanced himself from The Bloodline drama after his Bad Blood victory. During SmackDown, he cut a promo talking about his upcoming Crown Jewel match with fellow world champion Gunther.
The story of the faction continues in the meantime. This week’s episode of the Blue Branded Show featured an appearance from the Intercontinental Champion Jey Uso.
Uso confronted Solo Sikoa in the opening segment and asked him why he was dividing the family. Though the IC Champion still denied joining forces with Roman Reigns when the two ran into each other backstage later in the night.
Reigns then had another brawl with his cousins in the main event of the show. He even got his hands on the Ula Fala for a short while before the numbers game overwhelmed him. The show once again ended with Solo Sikoa and his partners standing tall.
Cody Rhodes has revealed the one WWE rule that only John Cena is allowed to break.
Vince McMahon was notorious for his weird rules for wrestlers during his reign. This included things like not using certain words such as ‘belt’ and not acknowledging the achievement of talents outside of the WWE bubble.
The new management under Triple H has relaxed a lot of these restrictions. Many current and former talents have praised the Game and his team for these changes, which have allowed talents to feel more relaxed in the company.
During a recent interview with SportBible, Cody Rhodes discussed how he has been allowed to break a lot of rules since he came back to WWE in 2022. The one instruction that still stands firm even for the Undisputed WWE Champion, however, is not to talk into the camera directly:
“When I went away and came back, I was allowed to bring everything back with me, including breaking a lot of the pre-existing rules. We’re out of the frame of looking at monitors sideways now. You know, what’s still a pretty big on-air rule but it’s good for production purposes, is not to talk into the camera.”
The American Nightmare mentioned how the only person who is allowed to break this rule is John Cena. The 16-time world champion always acknowledges the cameraman Stu before his run to the ring:
“That’s John’s thing. John looks at the camera and mentions Stu the cameraman, runs to the ring. I don’t want to see anyone, including myself, do it – and I probably have done at some point. But that’s his [thing] and that’s the reason why it’s a rule – until somebody beats him and then it’s his.”
The freedom to break this one rule might be passed down to someone else, as Rhodes suggested, in the upcoming future.
John Cena has announced his retirement tour for 2025. Considering his recent years where Cena has given the rub to many up-and-coming stars, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if the Cenation Leader puts over someone big on his way out.
