Cody Rhodes, the former WWE Intercontinental Champion and current AEW Executive Vice President, shocked the WWE Universe by making a surprise appearance on Monday Night RAW. He came to the aid of the current WWE Undisputed Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, who were attacked by the heel faction Judgment Day. Rhodes then challenged Judgment Day to a six-man tag team match, which he and his partners won in an exciting main event.
Cody Rhodes returns to WWE after six years
Cody Rhodes left WWE in 2017 after requesting his release from the company. He then went on to become one of the most successful independent wrestlers in the world, winning championships in various promotions such as Ring of Honor, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and Impact Wrestling. He also co-founded All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in 2019, along with The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega. AEW is widely considered as the biggest rival of WWE in the current wrestling landscape.

Rhodes’ return to WWE was unexpected and shocking, as he is still under contract with AEW. He has not revealed his motives for showing up on RAW, nor has he commented on his status with AEW. Some fans have speculated that he might have negotiated a special deal with WWE, similar to what Chris Jericho did when he appeared on the WWE Network’s Broken Skull Sessions podcast hosted by Stone Cold Steve Austin. Others have suggested that he might be part of a cross-promotional storyline between WWE and AEW, which could lead to some dream matches between the stars of both companies.
Judgment Day dominates RAW until Cody Rhodes intervenes
Judgment Day is a faction consisting of Rhea Ripley, Finn Balor, Damian Priest, and Dominik Mysterio. They have been wreaking havoc on RAW for the past few months, capturing the WWE Women’s World Championship, the NXT North American Championship, and the Money in the Bank briefcase. They have also targeted some of the top babyfaces on RAW, such as Seth Rollins, Bianca Belair, and Cody Rhodes.
On this week’s episode of RAW, Judgment Day continued their dominance by attacking Rollins backstage and injuring his arm. They then interrupted a tag team match between Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn versus Damian Priest and Finn Balor. The match ended in a disqualification after Owens hit Balor with the Money in the Bank briefcase. Judgment Day then assaulted Owens and Zayn, until Cody Rhodes came out to make the save.
Rhodes, who has a history with Judgment Day dating back to WrestleMania 39, where he lost to Dominik Mysterio in a singles match, challenged them to a six-man tag team match. He said that he was not going to let them ruin RAW and that he had two partners who were ready to fight.
Cody Rhodes teams up with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn to defeat Judgment Day
The main event of RAW saw Cody Rhodes team up with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn to face Finn Balor, Damian Priest, and Dominik Mysterio of Judgment Day. The match was a thrilling encounter that showcased the skills and charisma of all six men. The crowd was firmly behind Rhodes and his partners, who displayed great teamwork and chemistry.
The match ended when Rhodes hit Dominik with his signature move, the Crossroads. He then tagged in Sami Zayn, who delivered a Helluva Kick to Dominik’s face. Finally, he tagged in Kevin Owens, who finished off Dominik with a Stunner. The referee counted to three and declared Rhodes, Owens, and Zayn as the winners.
The crowd erupted in cheers as Rhodes celebrated with his partners in the ring. He then grabbed a microphone and thanked the fans for their support. He said that he was happy to be back on RAW and that he had some unfinished business with Judgment Day. He then issued a challenge to Dominik Mysterio for a rematch at Payback, the next WWE pay-per-view event.
Will Cody Rhodes get his revenge on Dominik Mysterio at Payback? Will he explain his reasons for returning to WWE? Will he face any consequences from AEW for appearing on RAW? These are some of the questions that fans are eager to find out in the coming weeks.