Cody Rhodes Makes It Official: Royal Rumble Declaration, Heated London Crowd, and a Violent Score to Settle With Jacob Fatu
Cody Rhodes’ road back to the top just took a dramatic and very personal turn. One week after shockingly losing the WWE Championship to Drew McIntyre on SmackDown, The American Nightmare appeared on the January 16 episode of SmackDown in London with a lot on his mind — and a lot of anger to unload. With no automatic rematch waiting for him, Rhodes made it clear that his comeback story will have to be earned the hard way.
Mixed Reactions, Honest Words
London fans didn’t exactly roll out the red carpet for Cody. Many in attendance loudly backed McIntyre, leaving Rhodes to navigate a rare wave of boos. Instead of pushing back, Cody leaned into the moment, openly admitting that parts of his title reign had become predictable. It was a refreshingly honest promo — and a turning point.
Rhodes said the only way forward is the same path that has defined WWE legends for decades: the Royal Rumble.
Cody Rhodes Declares for the Royal Rumble
With that, Cody officially became the first superstar to declare for the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble, set for January 31 in Saudi Arabia. A win wouldn’t just punch his ticket to WrestleMania 42 — it would put him in historic territory. Rhodes has already won two Royal Rumbles, and a third would tie him with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.
Just like that, the London crowd flipped. Cody even sweetened the moment by saying the city deserved to host WrestleMania someday, fully winning the audience back.
But Cody wasn’t done.
Jacob Fatu Called Out — Loudly
Rhodes made it clear who he blamed for losing the WWE Championship: Jacob Fatu. Calling out the Samoan Werewolf directly, Cody demanded a fight, saying Fatu owed him the biggest receipt of his career. If Fatu wouldn’t come to the ring, Cody promised to go find him himself.
When Fatu didn’t appear immediately, Rhodes did exactly that.
Chaos Erupts on SmackDown
Later in the show, Jacob Fatu stormed the ring and dismantled Kit Wilson in brutal fashion, sending a clear message. He then grabbed a microphone and dared Cody to face him.
Rhodes didn’t hesitate.
The two collided in a wild brawl that sent officials scrambling and the crowd into a frenzy. The bad blood was undeniable — and it didn’t take long for management to step in.
Match Made: Saturday Night’s Main Event
After order was restored, General Manager Nick Aldis made it official:
Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu will go down on January 24 at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Montreal, just one week before the Royal Rumble.
With WrestleMania dreams, Royal Rumble history, and pure vengeance all colliding, this matchup suddenly feels massive.
Will Cody Rhodes get his payback before the Rumble? Or will Jacob Fatu derail The American Nightmare’s comeback before it even begins?
One thing is certain — this rivalry is only getting started.
