Cody Rhodes marked his unexpected return to action at WWE’s Holiday Tour in Jacksonville, overcoming a recent spinal injury to recapture the Undisputed WWE Championship. Rhodes, who had been sidelined with axial compression of the cervical spine and cervical strain, emerged during Kevin Owens’ in-ring promo to set up the evening’s main event.
The injury occurred less than two weeks ago when Owens executed a Package Piledriver on Rhodes at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Despite medical reports indicating potential long-term implications, Rhodes competed in a Steel Cage Match, securing victory by escaping the structure moments before his opponent.
The timing of Rhodes’ return raises questions about his immediate future on SmackDown. Similar storyline injuries have historically led to extended absences, as evidenced by Randy Orton’s ongoing hiatus following an attack from Owens nearly two months ago.
Championship reign projected to conclude at WrestleMania
Industry source WrestleVotes indicates that WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas could mark a transitional point in Rhodes’ championship story.
The company is reportedly evaluating several high-profile opponents for the potential title change, including CM Punk, Roman Reigns, John Cena, and The Rock. This planning comes as Rhodes’ previous reign reached 259 days, notably shorter than Roman Reigns’ 735-day tenure with the championship.
READ MORE: Cody Rhodes Makes Major Call on Randy Orton’s WWE Future
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