Cody Rhodes’ absence from WWE programming since his Undisputed WWE Championship loss to John Cena at WrestleMania 41 has left the WWE Universe eagerly awaiting his next move.......➡️CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLES HERE.
After finishing his historic title reign in Las Vegas last month, Rhodes has remained entirely silent, offering no messages or responses regarding his defeat or his future plans.
Adding to the mystery, Rhodes, who typically shares his upcoming appearance schedule with fans at the start of each month, did not post one for May 2025.
While initial reports suggested he was advertised for the SmackDown episode following WrestleMania week (April 25th), he ultimately did not appear on that broadcast, fueling speculation about a potential extended hiatus.
However, WWE’s own promotional activities may have now revealed the target date for the American Nightmare’s return.
After noticeably removing Rhodes from advertisements for the May 2nd and May 9th episodes of SmackDown, the company is now prominently featuring him on promotional materials for the May 16th edition of Friday Night SmackDown, scheduled to take place in Greensboro, North Carolina.
WWE.com confirms he remains advertised for this date and subsequent SmackDown shows moving forward. This specific advertising pattern – removing him from the immediate upcoming shows but actively promoting him for the May 16th date – strongly suggests that the post-Backlash episode is earmarked for his comeback.
His return is highly anticipated, not only because of his status as a top star but also due to the controversial circumstances of his WrestleMania loss, which involved interference from Travis Scott aligning with the now-heel John Cena, leaving fans wondering how Rhodes will react to being “screwed over.”
As a result, anticipation is sky-high for what Rhodes will say and do upon his return. Many fans predict his immediate focus will be on reclaiming the Undisputed WWE Championship he lost to Cena. While the May 16th SmackDown appears to be the planned return date based on current advertising, fans are already thinking he will regain the title at SummerSlam in August.
This would allow Cena to have a lengthy title reign as WWE Champion while also working with other stars. It would also give Rhodes some time off to spend with his family.