Cody Rhodes is going back to square one.
On tonight’s episode of SmackDown, new Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre revealed a devastating clause in the contract for their “Three Stages of Hell” match: there would be no automatic rematch clause for Rhodes.
Undeterred, “The American Nightmare” appeared later in the show to announce his contingency plan. Rhodes officially declared himself as the first entrant in the 2026 Royal Rumble match. His goal is to become only the second man in history—alongside Stone Cold Steve Austin—to win the Rumble three times (having previously won in 2023 and 2024).
Rhodes intends to use the guaranteed WrestleMania title shot awarded to the Rumble winner to force McIntyre into a rematch. If he fails in Riyadh on January 31, Rhodes noted that the Elimination Chamber on February 28 remains a secondary path to the main event of WrestleMania.