Cody Rhodes defeats 27-year-old ex-US Champion after SmackDown goes off the air

Cody Rhodes wasn't officially on the SmackDown before Bad Blood 2024, instead being featured in a vignette promoting the Bad Blood main event. After SmackDown went off the air, he defeated a former US Champion and sent the crowd home happy.

No Cody Rhodes on SmackDown meant that he was most certainly going to appear for a dark match. This week saw not one, not two, but three dark matches, with The American Nightmare going on last.

His opponent was the 27-year-old former United States Champion Austin Theory, who he defeated after SmackDown went off the air.

Check out a clip below:

Theory was featured on SmackDown in a brief backstage segment where he and Grayson Waller walked past Chelsea Green, who stunk up the backstage area after being put in a dumpster by Michin.

Her stench would drive both Theory and Waller away. But for Austin Theory, the man who was once handpicked by Vince McMahon, it was a rough night in the office and another devastating loss to the Undisputed WWE Champion.

Cody Rhodes is set to headline Bad Blood 2024 as he teams alongside Roman Reigns. It remains to be seen whether the unlikely duo will emerge victorious.

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