The latest episode of WWE SmackDown ended with a massive brawl between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre. This happened when the Scottish Warrior was granted an impromptu WWE Undisputed Title match against Rhodes. However, things ended unexpectedly when The American Nightmare used his title belt to cause a disqualification.
In the post-match, a major fight broke out between them and the officials, and security arrived to separate them. However, amidst all of this, WWE subtly confirmed Cody Rhodes’ character change.
Usually, a babyface star never causes a disqualification by using unauthorized objects or weapons in the ring. Although The American Nightmare was a heroic SmackDown star, he still used the championship to attack The Scottish Warrior. This change in behavior from the champion subtly suggests that Rhodes may have silently turned heel or is about to do so.
Even Cody Rhodes seemed particularly frustrated throughout this segment and was more merciless than usual. All of this suggests that WWE is planning to turn him into the undisputed champion, and the end of SmackDown is major proof of that.
What’s next for Cody Rhodes after WWE SmackDown?
Drew McIntyre has established himself as the #1 contender for the championship. As a result, Cody Rhodes awarded him the match, but with the disqualification, their rivalry is not yet over.
The next premium live event is Survivor Series: WarGames 2025, which is scheduled to air live on November 29 from Petco Park in San Diego, California. The American Nightmare has already been announced for the show, opening up the possibility that Rhodes vs. McIntyre could be part of the card.
On top of that, Saturday Night’s Main Event is another show before WarGames, and WWE could fit in a rematch between McIntyre and Rhodes for the NBC special. Additionally, their rivalry is expected to attract more attention in the coming weeks.
Plus, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Stamford-based promotion finally crowns McIntyre as champion. Previously, Drew had suffered losses in major matches, but with Seth Rollins defeating Cody Rhodes at Crown Jewel, this diminishes his momentum, increasing the chances of McIntyre becoming the new titleholder.
Now, only time will tell what plans Triple H has in store for the undisputed champion and Drew McIntyre. If The Scottish Warrior becomes the new champion, the landscape of SmackDown will undergo a drastic change, and this potential title loss will push the heel idea of Cody even further.
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Edited by Neda Ali
