A top star has returned to close the latest episode of SmackDown.
Last seen wrestling on the August 8th episode of SmackDown, in a tag-team match, Cody Rhodes soon went on a hiatus after that. The finish of the match saw Drew McIntyre drive Rhodes through the announcer’s table with a Claymore kick. While Rhodes became sidelined with a kayfabe injury, the real reason was guessed as his commitment to his role in the upcoming Street Fighter movie and the birth of his second child.
Tonight, on the September 12th episode of SmackDown, fans saw McIntyre defeat Randy Orton in the main event of the show. However, soon after the finish, Cody Rhodes returned and interrupted his celebrations, before taking down The Scottish Warrior with a ‘Cody Cutter’.
Reigniting his old rivalry with McIntyre, The American Nightmare ambushed the former champion and announced a huge match for WrestlePalooza.
Making his presence felt, Rhodes then confirmed his match against Drew McIntyre at WrestlePalooza on September 20th, 2025.
Drew McIntyre Shares Controversial Advice For Upcoming WWE Stars
“This is a lot of jabs felt and looked better than, yeah, most of the guys, and yeah, just I said it recently. I don’t know why it was so controversial. The 85% maybe I’m a little off. Maybe it’s like 82% like, they don’t, they shouldn’t be WWE superstars. And no, I don’t just mean that. You have to be big and jacked like me. You have to look an athlete. My God. It’s like, you know, you’re in there for wrestling, entertainment, wrestling, still in there, athletic endeavor, at least look like an athlete.
We have so many superstars, and it sucks because it took me a long time to think like I’d found myself and know who I was… Get in the damn gym. You got the free time in the world. You paid a bunch of money. Now everybody makes money. Now you get no freaking excuse for setting your couch to eat pizza.”
In other news: Giulia again embarrassed on SmackDown.