Unfortunate Cody Rhodes update coming out of WWE Bad Blood - Reports
WWE Bad Blood 2024 marked another successful premium live event for the company. The event was special for Cody Rhodes in more than one way. The reigning Undisputed WWE Champion teamed up with longtime rival, Roman Reigns, for the first time and performed in front of fans in his native state, which included a special entrance.
The American Nightmare has been at the top of World Wrestling Entertainment since returning in 2022. Cody regularly tops the lists of WWE Shop's best-sellers and was publicly praised by Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin in August. Fanatics handles all WWE merchandise, and Rubin congratulated Rhodes on being the company's top merch-mover, joking that The Rock and Logan Paul need to step it up.
Rhodes and his ties to Atlanta were heavily pushed going into Bad Blood 2024. However, Fightful Select reports that Cody surprisingly did not top the merchandise sales list for this past weekend in A-Town.
Backstage sources noted that Cody ranked number two on internal sales lists. The first place spot was listed as "WWE/ Bad Blood," which refers to company-branded or PLE-specific merchandise sales. This category also includes the sale of replica championship belts sold over the weekend.
Rhodes and Reigns defeated Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu in the main event of Bad Blood 2024. The Rock returned after the match to stare down The Original Tribal Chief and The American Nightmare, teasing the revival of their storyline. Cody's special entrance was performed by The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South Band.
Bad Blood 2024 also featured a post-show parking lot brawl between Cody and Kevin Owens. A backstage report provided an update on the matter this week, noting that the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion was injured.
Cody Rhodes is set to appear at WWE Crown Jewel 2024
WWE is set to return to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the sixth Crown Jewel PLE. The big event will take place on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at Mohammed Abdo Arena in Riyadh.
Triple H will begin a new tradition at Crown Jewel 2024. The top champions from each brand will face off every year for the Crown Jewel Championship and the Women's Crown Jewel Championship.
The inaugural Crown Jewel champions will be crowned next month as Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes takes on World Heavyweight Champion Gunther, and WWE Women's Champion Nia Jax faces Women's World Champion Liv Morgan. Their respective brand-specific titles will not be on the line.
Crown Jewel 2024 will begin at 1 PM ET on Peacock this Saturday. The Countdown to Crown Jewel pre-show is expected to begin at 11:30 AM ET on all of the company's social media channels.