WATCH: Cody Rhodes pulls off iconic Eddie Guerrero spot with 30-year-old star after SmackDown goes off the air
Cody Rhodes defeated the former NXT Champion with an Eddie Guerrero trick after the latest episode of SmackDown went off-air.

Cody Rhodes [via WWE]
The late, great Eddie Guerrero may have left the WWE Universe too soon, but his influence on WWE superstars remains strong. Even today, many wrestlers imitate his wrestling moves, dance moves, and even his tricks and cheats to win matches. Recently, SmackDown star Carmelo Hayes tried to use one of Guerrero’s tricks against Cody Rhodes, but it was harder to pull off than he expected.
After the latest episode of SmackDown, Rhodes faced Hayes in a one-on-one match. The Italian fans enjoyed the bout and witnessed a hilarious moment. In the final moments, Melo tried to pull a Guerrero by smashing a chair on the mat and handing it to The American Nightmare. However, the champ didn’t fall for it and played along, leaving the referee confused about the real culprit.
When his plan to surprise Cody Rhodes failed, Hayes tried to take control. However, the 39-year-old champion was quicker and ended the match with a Cody Cutter and Cross Rhodes. The Italian fans loved the match, especially the astonishing moment, and left the arena thrilled.
Cody Rhodes and Carmelo Hayes pulls of an Eddie Guerrero after #Smackdown went off the air 😭
— Daniel🇦🇺 (@dannybo1_) March 22, 2025
🎥: @philocronic_a pic.twitter.com/GF3MCWH9ic
The former NXT Champion hasn’t had a clear path to WrestleMania but could soon enter the U.S. title picture. Meanwhile, The American Nightmare faces a bigger challenge—defending his title against Cena at WrestleMania. Before that, both superstars will share the ring on the upcoming episode of Raw in Scotland, where fans can expect chaos.
Interim UFC Heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall wants to fight John Cena and Jon Jones in a tag team match with Cody Rhodes
John Cena’s heel turn at the Elimination Chamber shocked both the wrestling world and people outside the sport. The storyline has built major hype for this year’s WrestleMania. Even interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has expressed his desire to team up with Rhodes.

In an interview with The Schmo, Aspinall suggested a crossover idea of teaming up with the WWE Champion. He called himself and Rhodes “the babyfaces” and pitched a tag team match against Cena and Jon Jones. Although Aspinall has never wrestled, many fighters have appeared in WWE since it merged with UFC under the TKO banner.
That’s my retirement plan. Me and Cody Rhodes, Cody Rhodes is my guy. He’s my guy so, me and Cody we’ll have a match one day. We might team up, because we’re both babyfaces aren’t we? Me and Cody, we can fight Jon Jones and whoever the heel is over there. Cody Rhodes and Tom Aspinall tag-team versus Jon Jones and John Cena. Babyfaces versus heels. It would be a big matchup.
Tom Aspinall on teaming up with Cody Rhodes
Tom Aspinall proposes a tag-team WWE match 😅
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) March 21, 2025
“Cody Rhodes, Tom Aspinall versus Jon Jones and John Cena. Baby faces versus heels.”
🎥 @TheSchmo312 #UFC #WWEpic.twitter.com/zyU0fjZuT2
Aspinall, like the fans, has been eagerly waiting for his fight against Jones. While there’s still no official date, Dana White recently hinted at a potential title unification during an interview with ESPN’s First Take. There is no doubt in saying that if his dream match somehow comes true, it will be one of the biggest spectacles in sports history.
Cody Rhodes will look to change his miserable win-loss record against John Cena
For those who don’t know, Rhodes and Cena’s match at WrestleMania won’t be their first encounter. They have faced each other several times before, and the record is astonishing. The 16-time world champion has defeated Rhodes every single time. Here’s a look at their head-to-head record.

They have met four times on a PLE, with Cena having won all four of them. A thing to note is three of those four matches were multi-man matches, and one was a tag team contest. They have never faced each other one-on-one on a PLE, and WrestleMania 41 will mark the first time.
Cody Rhodes has NEVER beaten John Cena in a singles match.
— Pro Wrestling Finesse (@ProWFinesse) March 20, 2025
Cena is currently 4-0 against Cody. pic.twitter.com/ZvBQRq5F6K
Although the fans are fully behind him, there’s a chance the 39-year-old star could lose his title to the former Doctor of Thuganomics. This will be Cena’s first WrestleMania match since 2023, where he lost to then-U.S. Champion Austin Theory. Ironically, last year Cena helped The American Nightmare win the title, and this year, he might take it from him.
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