On this week’s SmackDown in San Antonio, a relentless Cody Rhodes frog-splashed John Cena through a table to force a signature on their SummerSlam rematch contract. Rhodes had to scramble because Cena had publicly stated that he wouldn’t be able to compete at the PLE due to an ongoing filming commitment with Netflix.
The crowd started booing him, but the Undisputed WWE Champion tried explaining to the fans that he was emotionally exhausted and could barely make it to the arena for SmackDown last night. Speaking about Rhodes, The Cenation Leader said that he could have his rematch for the gold at any of the forthcoming events like Clash in Paris or even Crown Jewel in Perth, but not at SummerSlam.
After revealing his status for The Biggest Party of the Summer, Cena left the ring and tried to exit the arena. However, a hellbent Rhodes chased him down on the ramp, and they started brawling. Back in the ring, The American Nightmare struck Cena’s skull with the title belt—something he couldn’t do at WrestleMania 41. However, Rhodes didn’t hold back in pulling the trigger this time.
When Rhodes made Cena sign on the dotted line, the Peacemaker actor was already down and out from the frog splash he’d suffered. The Last Real Champion was in no state to realize he was being forced to sign up for a Street Fight at SummerSlam. It will be interesting to see if that’s enough to mitigate the hate from their WrestleMania showdown.
Cody Rhodes Dropped a Major Heel-Turn Hint on SmackDown
Before John Cena came out on SmackDown, Cody Rhodes addressed the fans in attendance for a while. He talked about a recent post he made on X, something he believed was scrutinized beyond its actual weight. The post sparked speculation among fans that the ex-AEW EVP’s evil arc was upon them. Even though he tried to shrug it off during his promo, there was something the fans noticed about Rhodes’ look this week.
In a backstage shot, one could see him wearing the same glasses The Rock wore on Raw’s Netflix debut, not to mention the watch that The Final Boss posted on Instagram before his return on SmackDown to seek Rhodes’ soul. This picked up steam in numerous circles on social media. Not long ago, The Prodigal Son mentioned that it would be sloppy to completely discard The Great One’s offer.
This could easily mean Rhodes has secretly acceded to The Final Boss. Many wrestling pundits and fans believe his upcoming clash with Cena at SummerSlam might be the litmus test for Rhodes. It will be intriguing to see whether he upholds the moral ground he has stood on for years or sells his soul to The Rock.
