In the world of WWE, where the lines between reality and scripted drama often blur, Cody Rhodes gave fans a scare during his recent SmackDown main event against Carmelo Hayes. Whispers of a potential shoulder injury started to circulate among the wrestling community, sparking concern about the Undisputed WWE Champion’s readiness for his upcoming high-stakes match. However, the rumor mill can take a breather, as updates have arrived straight from the wrestling grapevine, courtesy of Dave Meltzer on “Wrestling Observer Radio.”
Meltzer, a seasoned ring-side sleuth, put the concerns to rest by confirming that Rhodes is not listed as injured. In true wrestling fashion, where every ache could be a plot twist, this injury scare wasn’t even deemed worthy of TV mention, ruling out the possibility of it being part of a storyline. “It’s probably nothing at all significant,” Meltzer concluded, much to the relief of fans everywhere.
The absence of Rhodes from the following “WWE Raw” did nothing to calm the storm initially, as pointed out by Meltzer’s co-host, Bryan Alvarez. This silence fueled speculation that perhaps an announcement was being saved for the next SmackDown. Yet, the plot thickens—or rather, unthickens—as no such drama unfolded.
Looking ahead, Rhodes is on the card to defend his title against AJ Styles at the eagerly anticipated WWE Backlash in Lyon, France, on May 4. The matchup promises to be a barn burner, with Rhodes seemingly in fighting form following his non-title victory handshake with Styles as SmackDown went off air.
The upcoming event also features other tantalizing bouts, including Damian Priest defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Jey Uso and a Triple Threat for the WWE Women’s Championship involving Bayley, Naomi, and Tiffany Stratton. As the WWE universe turns its eyes toward Lyon, the excitement builds—not just for the matches, but for the confirmation that their champion, Rhodes, will indeed be stepping into the ring, injury rumors be damned.