Cody Rhodes and John Cena Set to Make Their Return on SmackDown This Week

Cody Rhodes and John Cena will be under the same roof on SmackDown this week after an explosive ending to Saturday Night's Main Event.

Cody Rhodes and John Cena Set to Make Their Return on SmackDown This Week

John Cena and Cody Rhodes (via WWE)

Cody Rhodes made his return to WWE at Saturday Night’s Main Event last week, immediately setting his sights on John Cena and challenging him to a tag team match at Money in the Bank. Following the chaos that unfolded, The American Nightmare is now set to return to WWE SmackDown this week. To be concise, he won’t be coming alone—The Cenation Leader will also be in the house.

WWE has officially announced that Cody Rhodes and John Cena will appear on this week’s episode of SmackDown. The show is set to take place at the Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee, and could feature a potential confrontation between the two arch-rivals. Additionally, this will mark Rhodes’ first appearance on the blue brand since the episode of SmackDown leading up to WrestleMania 41.

Moreover, The American Nightmare has challenged The Franchise Player to team up with Logan Paul for a tag team match against him and Jey Uso at Money in the Bank. WWE has already made the match official, and fans are now eager to hear what Rhodes will say next. It appears the company is building toward a redemption arc for The Prodigal Son, which could potentially culminate at SummerSlam.

Additionally, the Undisputed WWE Champion is in the midst of his farewell tour, making the upcoming edition of SmackDown, a pivotal moment in his journey. With all the hype surrounding Cody Rhodes and John Cena, it will be interesting to see how their next confrontation unfolds and what it means for both superstars moving forward.

Wrestling veteran criticizes Cody Rhodes’ return at Saturday Night’s Main Event

Last week’s Saturday Night’s Main Event marked Cody Rhodes’ first appearance in WWE since WrestleMania 41. The return of Rhodes from an absence and a major title loss needs to be handled perfectly. So far, the manner of booking has remained underwhelming at times.

Cody Rhodes hugging Jey Uso
Cody Rhodes hugging Jey Uso at SNME [via- WWE]

Fans were highly excited about his return, with many expecting him to immediately target John Cena. However, some felt that WWE rushed his homecoming. Now, wrestling veteran Vince Russo has shared his thoughts on the events of SNME.

Speaking on WrestleBinge, Vince Russo commented that WWE had been building anticipation for The American Nightmare’s return for months. However, instead of pursuing a rematch with John Cena, Rhodes challenged him to a tag team match involving Logan Paul—a decision that Russo found to be awkward. The former WWE writer stated that, in his view, this direction made Rhodes’ return fall flat.

And, bro, Cody Rhodes comes back; his big return from WrestleMania. We haven’t seen the guy in five-six weeks, and he comes back to challenge for [sic] a tag team match. He doesn’t want a rematch against Cena. No, no, no, I don’t want a rematch

The wrestling veteran expressed confusion over WWE’s decision not to book a rematch between Rhodes and Cena. He believed it made the storyline feel disconnected and made Rhodes appear foolish during the NBC special. Furthermore, Russo suggested that WWE should have planned Rhodes’ return for an episode of SmackDown or a premium live event, rather than a show like Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Cody Rhodes to win the Undisputed WWE Championship down the line?

Cody Rhodes lost the Undisputed WWE Championship to John Cena at WrestleMania 41. However, Cena’s title reign has received mixed reactions from fans. As WWE’s top babyface, The American Nightmare remains the most likely candidate to reignite fan excitement. With that momentum, there’s a strong chance he could reclaim championship gold sooner rather than later.

Cody Rhodes
Cody Rhodes (via- WWE)

WWE could be setting up The Prodigal Son as John Cena’s final opponent. The Franchise Player has expressed his desire to end his wrestling career by taking the WWE Title with him. However, the company might position Cody Rhodes as the one to stop him—giving The American Nightmare one last shot to protect WWE’s legacy.

In what could be a career-defining match, Rhodes may reclaim the title, restore the timeline, and retire John Cena for good. Furthermore, if WWE wants to raise the stakes, they could book this showdown for SummerSlam later this year—a stage fitting for such a monumental clash.

Also Read: