Cody Rhodes Loses It on SmackDown, WWE Books Explosive Grudge Match for SNME XLIII
Cody Rhodes didn’t just return to WWE SmackDown in London — he stormed into it with unfinished business written all over his face. The moment his music hit, the energy inside the arena shifted. Fans were loud, but Cody’s body language said even more. This wasn’t a feel-good appearance. This was personal.
Jacob Fatu made sure it stayed that way.
As soon as the two crossed paths, things spiraled out of control. Stares turned into shoves, and shoves turned into an all-out brawl that sent security scrambling. There was no slow build, no trash talk segment, no holding back. It was raw chaos, and the crowd loved every second of it.
The bad blood traces back to last week in Germany, where Fatu cost Rhodes his shot at the Undisputed WWE Championship. That moment didn’t just derail Cody’s plans — it lit a fuse. When Fatu later demolished Kit Wilson on SmackDown, it felt intentional, almost like a challenge. Rhodes took the bait immediately, rushing the ring as the arena erupted and fists started flying.
This Was Never About Gold
By the end of the night, WWE officials had seen enough. The company made it official: Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu in a Grudge Match at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event XLIII.
No titles. No fancy stipulations. Just two men who can’t stand the sight of each other.
Rhodes isn’t chasing championships here — he’s chasing revenge. The interference, the disrespect, and the repeated attacks have pushed him to a breaking point. And from the reaction in London, fans are fully invested in seeing how far he’s willing to go to make Fatu pay.
This rivalry has been simmering for weeks, but SmackDown made one thing clear: it’s officially boiling over. SNME XLIII won’t be about wins and losses—it’ll be about who survives when anger takes over.
