Five directions WWE can take if Cody Rhodes relinquishes title due to injury
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Cody Rhodes might have to relinquish his WWE title.
The main event of WrestleMania 42 Night 1 saw Cody Rhodes defend his Undisputed WWE title against Randy Orton. It was one of the most gruesome in-ring encounters, with both men suffering injuries, especially Rhodes after retaining his title.
Should the injury prove to be serious, here are five directions WWE can take if Rhodes is no longer the champion moving forward:
5. Make Randy Orton the champion
The ending of WrestleMania 42 Night 1 saw Randy Orton attack Cody Rhodes right after he was defeated in the match. He put the exclamation point by punt kicking him in the skull and leaving him lifeless in the ring.
The Viper could be the best possible candidate left on SmackDown to carry the company, leading to General Manager Nick Aldis simply awarding him the title in an interesting turn.
Also Read: Roman Reigns vs Oba Femi & other new major feuds teased at WWE WrestleMania 42
4. Vacant title Tournament
Should Cody Rhodes relinquish the Undisputed WWE title, Nick Aldis could set up a tournament to crown a new titleholder. This could see participation of top and rising stars in an elimination-style tournament that could take place over the weeks and culminate at WWE’s next Premium Live Event, i.e., Backlash.
3. Battle Royal
One of the most traditional ways to crown a new champion in case of a title vacancy in WWE has been an over-the-top-rope battle royal. The match could be set up for a major show and see superstars from both RAW and SmackDown square off with the richest prize in Sports Entertainment at stake.
2. Drew McIntyre vs Randy Orton
A creative booking in the case of Cody Rhodes vacating the WWE title could see the company revert back to an original WrestleMania 42 plan. This could see them book a match between Randy Orton and former champion, Drew McIntyre, in a high-stakes collision on an episode of SmackDown.
1. CM Punk contests for the WWE title
The RAW after WrestleMania 42 saw CM Punk tease coming after the Undisputed WWE Championship during an in-ring confrontation with Cody Rhodes. If Rhodes is taken out of the equation due to injury, a booking could see Punk switch brands and become a top contender for the vacant title to fill the void left by Rhodes.
What is the latest update on Cody Rhodes?
Per Dave Meltzer, Rhodes is in concussion protocol, which means he is not cleared for the in-ring action. However, he is not believed to have suffered a broken orbital bone.
Did WWE alter plans for Cody Rhodes vs Randy Orton?
Yes, per Bodyslam and Fightful, there were internal discussions about Randy Orton winning the title, but the final decision, made in the closing weeks, was for Cody Rhodes to retain.
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Nik O Conner is a long-time fan of professional wrestling. After dropping his Engineering regular studies in 2020, he decided to pursue his passion and became a writer. Over the last few years, he has written for multiple webs bringing a lot of skills and creativity to the table.