WWE Makes Huge Cody Rhodes Announcement Ahead Of SmackDown

Cody Rhodes has been absent from WWE television for around two weeks.

The last time he was seen was on the March 13, 2026, episode of Friday Night SmackDown, where he was the victim of a brutal betrayal by his longtime friend and mentor, Randy Orton.

The blue brand episode featured a contract signing segment between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton for their upcoming Undisputed WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 42.

During the segment, Randy Orton turned heel on Rhodes after Rhodes expressed his love and admiration for The Viper. Orton struck Rhodes with a low blow and then used steel steps to gash open his forehead.

He then placed Rhodes’ head on the steps and struck him with a steel chair. The savage assault left Rhodes drenched in his own blood, while Randy Orton sat in the middle of the ring on a chair holding Rhodes’ championship belt.

Rhodes did not appear on last week’s episode of WWE SmackDown (March 20), but he has been advertised for this week’s episode on March 27. Ahead of his return to the blue brand show, WWE dropped a massive announcement regarding The American Nightmare on Raw.

Cody Rhodes Set To Appear On The Pat McAfee Show This Wednesday

During this week’s flagship show, WWE announced that Cody Rhodes will be on The Pat McAfee Show this Wednesday and will address the brutal attack Randy Orton launched on him on SmackDown a few weeks ago.

Cody Rhodes will give his first interview since Randy Orton’s attack this Wednesday on The Pat McAfee Show#WWERAWpic.twitter.com/hVivymHPkz

— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) March 24, 2026

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