Cody Rhodes to Return to WWE Smackdown Ahead of Wrestlemania 42 Showdown
Cody Rhodes' Anticipated Comeback
WWE has officially announced that Cody Rhodes will make his return on the upcoming Smackdown episode. This follows an incident where Randy Orton attacked him, leading to Cody's absence from the entire show. Orton, who turned heel last week, targeted his former tag team partner, setting the stage for a high-stakes match at Wrestlemania 42, where he will challenge Cody for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
With both wrestlers previously portraying 'good guys', WWE had to shift one into a villain role, and Orton has thrived in this new persona. He is on the hunt for his 15th world title, having not secured a championship since 2020. His last major title shot was against John Cena during Cena's farewell tour.
Orton previously faced Cody in the King of the Ring finals and earned another title shot by winning the Elimination Chamber 2026. Initially, he was set to face Drew McIntyre, but after Cody's victory over McIntyre for the title on Smackdown, the main event was altered. McIntyre is currently engaged in a storyline with Jacob Fatu, leading to a potential clash at Wrestlemania.
Since 2017, Cody has not captured a world title at Wrestlemania, with his last victory being against Bray Wyatt at Wrestlemania 33. A win for Orton at this year's event would be a significant milestone for him and his supporters, especially considering his WWE debut was in 2022.
Main Events for Wrestlemania 42
Night 2 Main Event
While the Cody versus Orton match will headline night 1, CM Punk is set to defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Roman Reigns on night 2. Reigns secured this title shot by winning the Royal Rumble, although Orton was also a participant but did not emerge victorious.
Punk has held onto his title since November 2025, having claimed the vacated championship by defeating Jey Uso at Saturday Night's Main Event. Seth Rollins, the former champion, had to relinquish the title due to an injury sustained at Crown Jewel in Australia.