Add as a preferred source on Google Cody Rhodes is officially scheduled to compete on WWE Friday Night SmackDown. On this Friday’s show, held at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Undisputed WWE Champion opened the broadcast to update his physical condition following WrestleMania 42.
Still bearing visible marks from the eye injury inflicted by Randy Orton, Rhodes announced he has been cleared to compete again. The champion then began to discuss his next steps, but was interrupted by Ricky Saints, recently promoted from NXT.
WWE itself had already confirmed Saints as one of the major attractions for tonight’s SmackDown, treating his arrival as his official debut on the blue brand’s main roster.
The moment carried extra weight, as Saints and Rhodes have a history outside WWE. In June 2020, still as Ricky Starks, he answered Cody’s open challenge for the TNT Championship in AEW, in a match that ultimately paved the way for his signing with Tony Khan’s company.
In the ring, Cody recalled that past and questioned what had changed since the last time Saints decided to stand in his way. Saints replied that he didn’t show up to make a statement, but to change the perspective on the future.
Finally, Rhodes offered a match for later that night, and Saints accepted. The champion then repeated his new catchphrase, claiming to be “easy to find but hard to beat,” an expression that had already been highlighted since the previous SmackDown.