Latest update on Cody Rhodes' return plans ahead of WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025

The American Nightmare has been from WWE programming since last month.

Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes has been absent from WWE television since the August 8 episode of Friday Night SmackDown. Rhodes suffered a brutal beatdown at the hands of Drew McIntyre, who Claymore’d him through the announce desk.

Rhodes has been absent from programming ever since, and initial reports suggested that he would defend the title against McIntyre at the upcoming Wrestlepalooza PLE.

Wrestlepalooza is set for Saturday, September 20, 2025, at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, and will usher in the new era of WWE PLEs on ESPN.

Rhodes’ continued absence and Randy Orton’s attack on McIntyre reignited their feud, which made many believe that the two stars would lock horns in the absence of Rhodes, who was finishing up shooting for the Street Fighter movie.

However, WWE on last week’s SmackDown announced that Orton and McIntyre will go one-on-one on the September 12 episode of SmackDown. This has created a lot of confusion among fans as it was initially believed that Orton was battling McIntyre at the PLE in Rhodes’ absence.

Also Read: WWE SmackDown (September 12, 2025): Brock Lesnar’s appearance; Women’s title rematch & more set for next week

Cody Rhodes will return ahead of Wrestlepalooza

Dave Meltzer, in an update on Wrestling Observer Radio, confirmed that the Orton vs McIntyre match was booked for this week. Because Rhodes will, in fact, be back in time for Wrestlepalooza, and the plan is for him to face McIntyre at that event.

“Cody Rhodes is scheduled now for Wrestlepalooza against Drew McIntyre for the championship. The Orton match was gonna take place first, but they didn’t know if they would do it on the pay-per-view.

I know the Cody thing was up in the air, I presume it was because they didn’t know for a fact that he would be done filming (for Street Fighter) by the 20th.

That’s what I was told in the middle of the week – if he’s back, he’ll be on the card, and if he’s not, it’s gonna be Orton and Drew. But yeah, it’s Cody and Drew.”

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