Cody Rhodes is all set to defend his Undisputed WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre at Saturday Night’s Main Event XLI in a rematch. The American Nightmare is the favorite to beat the Scotsman and retain his gold again.
The former AEW star captured the title earlier this year, beating John Cena at the historic two-night SummerSlam Premium Live Event. However, the Triple H-led creative team might have subtly indicated that a beloved star could dethrone Rhodes as SmackDown’s top titleholder.
Sami Zayn is a threat to Rhodes’ title reign
The go-home edition of Friday Night SmackDown before SNME XLI saw Sami Zayn and The American Nightmare interact in a backstage segment. Some fans and pundits noticed how The Master Strategist had his eyes locked on Rhodes’ title.
The interaction led fans to speculate that Sami Zayn might soon turn heel and go after the coveted championship. Many feel the beloved Canadian star is poised to eventually defeat Rhodes for the title following the segment. In a shocking twist, Triple H could deliver another jaw-dropping twist by booking Zayn to capture the Undisputed WWE Title.
The company may have spoiled the result of Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre
The final SmackDown before SNME saw a contract signing segment between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre. During the segment, a new stipulation was added to the bout after Drew initially refused to sign the agreement.
According to the stipulation, Rhodes will lose his title if the contest ends via disqualification or countout. Also, WWE may have subtly hinted that Rhodes would retain his title, as the Scotsman gained the upper hand on the blue brand before the showdown.
Over the years, viewers have noticed that a star who gains momentum on the final weekly show before a WWE PLE or special event ends up losing. If Rhodes defeats McIntyre again, the company will need a new challenger for the world title. Sami Zayn is currently available to start a feud for the coveted championship. Hence, the creative team could actually move in that direction after SNME.
Losing the Undisputed WWE Championship would open new doors for The American Nightmare
Cody Rhodes dropping his gold to Sami Zayn before WrestleMania would be beneficial for both stars. The second-generation wrestler has already had a stellar reign as a babyface and seemingly needs a character change to remain on top.
A potential title loss would finally push Rhodes to embrace his dark side. He could portray a Homelander-like gimmick on TV, a change fans have been eagerly waiting to witness for a long time.
Zayn has delivered countless memorable performances in the past few years. He has been among the most reliable wrestlers for the company since he started working with The Bloodline. Therefore, WWE could look to reward him for his hard work by booking him to dethrone Rhodes.
As of now, this is mere speculation, and it will be interesting to find out what the title picture would look like on the Road to WrestleMania: Vegas.
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