4 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (1 Aug - Results & Review)

1. Cody Rhodes Just…Believes Him?

Listen, this is almost certainly a swerve or laying the groundwork for a Cody heel turn at SummerSlam, but why would Rhodes just believe John Cena when he says “the old John Cena is back”? This is somebody who stabbed him in the back to align with The Rock (and erm...Travis Scott) in March, then took his title at WrestleMania 41.

Cody had to fight tooth and nail then win King Of The Ring before he’d get another shot at the guy who wronged him, and yet one solitary over the top 'rally the troops' promo is enough to convince him that John has changed? Why would Cody believe that, or let Cena erase the past 5 months without protest?

What a weird opening segment.

It would’ve been fine had Rhodes been doubtful, but no, he had to play thick babyface. Again, WWE surely have something else up their sleeves for the weekend's PLE, but it'd be lovely if pro wrestling could stop making the good guys look totally dumb. Cody didn't need to take Cena's word at face value, nor did he need to share a beverage with the reigning WWE Champion like all of those attacks between March-July 2025 hadn't happened.

This is right up there with Rhodes and Rock suddenly becoming fast friends. That made no logical sense and spat in the face of prior storytelling. Don't tell us WWE want to do the same with Cody and Cena?! Yes, the live crowd adored cheering for John again and having him acknowledge that love, but that opening segment was a swing and a miss for this guy personally.

Oh, they better have something big in mind on Sunday.