WWE’s production team accidentally censored Cody Rhodes during his promo on RAW despite him not using any inappropriate language. The American Nightmare was building anticipation for John Cena’s return next week in Brussels when the unnecessary censorship occurred.
Rhodes delivered a scathing address ahead of Cena’s upcoming appearance, with his words being clearly audible to the live audience. However, when Rhodes used the word “moron,” the production team inexplicably muted the audio feed, creating an awkward moment during the broadcast.
The production team typically receives the feed earlier than the broadcast audience, allowing them to censor language deemed non-PG for television. While WWE has moved away from strict family-friendly content in recent years, they still maintain certain standards for broadcast programming.
Rhodes previously broke PG boundaries at Elimination Chamber 2025 when he told The Rock to “go f- himself,” which likely put the production team on high alert for his future promos. This heightened sensitivity appears to have resulted in the overzealous censoring of the completely acceptable term “moron” during his latest appearance.
The censored moment can be seen in the last 30 seconds of WWE’s official clip shared on social media. Despite the audio being muted for broadcast viewers, everyone in the arena heard Rhodes clearly, as the word falls well within acceptable broadcast standards.
Next week’s RAW will mark Cena’s first appearance since turning heel at Elimination Chamber 2025. It will also be the first time Rhodes and Cena share the same space since Cena’s shocking betrayal.