Cody Rhodes has been off TV since his defeat to John Cena at WrestleMania 41. He dropped the Undisputed WWE Championship to The Franchise Player, who became a record-breaking 17-time World Champion.
The American Nightmare is reportedly expected to return to WWE in the coming weeks before Money in the Bank on June 7th, but it is unclear what he will do when he comes back.
BREAKING: The return of Cody Rhodes is happening very soon, likely before Money In The Bank
He will be a focal point of WWE programming throughout the entire Summer.
[WrestleVotes]WE ARE SO BACK. pic.twitter.com/Td9X8LENb1
— 𝙎𝙖𝙢 (@RhodesKotaEra)
Will Cody Rhodes Target John Cena Upon His Return?
As a top babyface, there are not many paths that Rhodes could follow when he comes back from his hiatus. The former champion could likely go after The Franchise Player again, setting the stage for a rematch for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Rhodes will likely be WWE’s choice to replace Cena once the latter retires, so a title match at SummerSlam, where the former will regain the title, would make sense.
In that instance, The Rock could make his return, as he has unfinished business with both Rhodes and Cena, with the latter turning heel and aligning with The Final Boss at the Elimination Chamber.
The other option for him is to enter the Money in the Bank Ladder Match and get the opportunity to claim the briefcase and get a title shot, opening the road for a new storyline, as The American Nightmare would be able to target both the Undisputed WWE Champion and the World Heavyweight Champion.
Rhodes will not likely reignite his feud with the current United States Champion Jacob Fatu, while a short-term feud with Drew McIntyre could happen, especially if it leads to a title shot. The Scottish Warrior also wants to become part of Cena’s farewell tour.
WWE Not Considering Turning Cody Rhodes Heel Anytime Soon
The American Nightmare has become a top babyface in WWE since his comeback at WrestleMania 38 in 2022. After finishing his story to become World Champion last year, there has been speculation about a heel turn for Rhodes, but WWE reportedly has no desire to change his character anytime soon, as the SmackDown Superstar is a top babyface and a fan favorite.
“As of WrestleMania, there were no plans to turn Cody Rhodes heel. The company had creative plans for him as a babyface throughout the year. A number of people were against the idea of turning Rhodes heel, noting his heavy contributions to the company’s ticketing and merchandise success,” Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful wrote. [H/T: Yahoo]
With that said, the question is whether Rhodes will make his return on SmackDown in the next couple of weeks or he will interfere in the match between Cena and R-Truth at Saturday Night’s Main Event, where the two WWE veterans will collide one last time, even though the title will not be on the line.