Major update on Cody Rhodes' WWE status amid current absence

Cody Rhodes has been absent from WWE television after getting attacked by Drew McIntyre on the August 8 episode of SmackDown. A recent report has revealed a huge update on Cody Rhodes.

After defeating John Cena at SummerSlam and becoming Undisputed WWE Champion once again, Rhodes teamed up with The GOAT to take on Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul. The match ended in disqualification, with The Scottish Psychopath hitting Claymore on Rhodes through the side of the commentary table.

It was done to write off the Undisputed WWE Champion, who was set to shoot for the Street Fighter movie along with Roman Reigns. He missed Clash in Paris, and it looked like he'd be absent for Wrestlepalooza as well.

Dave Meltzer disclosed on a recent episode of the Wrestling Observer Radio that Cody Rhodes is set to face Drew McIntyre at Wrestlepalooza.

"Cody Rhodes is scheduled now for Wrestlepalooza against Drew McIntyre for the championship. The Orton match was gonna take place first, but they didn't know if they would do it on the pay-per-view. I know the Cody thing was up in the air. I presume it was because they didn't know for a fact that he would be done filming by the 20th. That's what I was told in the middle of the week. If he's back, he'll be on the card, and if he's not, it's gonna be Orton and Drew. But yeah, it's Cody and Drew," Meltzer said. [H/T: WrestleTalk]

Drew McIntyre vs Randy Ortan is set to take place on the September 12 episode of SmackDown. It will be interesting to see if Cody Rhodes makes an appearance or if an announcement is going to be made for Wrestlepalooza.

Cody Rhodes playing Guile in the 'Street Fighter' movie

One of the signs that WWE is getting more mainstream roles in acting for its biggest stars. Cody Rhodes has been cast to play Guile in the upcoming Street Fighter movie, starring Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji and Jason Momoa.

Roman Reigns is also part of the movie, so he was written out at Clash in Paris after an attack by Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. Reigns will portray the antagonist Akuma.

Rhodes and Reigns are not the only pro wrestlers in the movie, with NJPW's Hirooki Goto set to play E. Honda. Street Fighter is set to release on October 16, 2026.