The final WWE SmackDown of 2024 pulled out all the stops, setting up the high-stakes championship match for WWE Royal Rumble 2025. Friday night, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis ordered Kevin Owens to relinquish the Winged-Eagle Championship before the night ends. As many expected, Kevin Owens did nothing of the sort, leading to Cody Rhodes returning to SmackDown despite being injured after the gruesome beating he sustained at the hands of the “Prized Fighter” at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event.
While everyone thought Cody Rhodes would demand that Kevin Owens relinquish the belt, everyone was caught by surprise when he did not do that. Instead, the “American Nightmare” issued a challenge for the Royal Rumble. He wants Kevin Owens to put up his stolen title against Cody’s Undisputed WWE Championship in a Ladder Match at the first WWE PLE of 2025, the Royal Rumble.
Cody told Nick Aldis to make it official right then and there. Without wasting time, the SmackDown General Manager officially announced that this match would take place at the February 1st, 2025, event in Indianapolis. IT’S OFFICIAL! @CodyRhodes will face @FightOwensFight at Royal Rumble! #SmackDown pic.
twitter.com/aR3GruKM4F — WWE (@WWE) December 28, 2024 In classic Kevin Owens fashion, he would attack Cody Rhodes, taking shots at his already hurting neck, effectively gaining momentum and the advantage heading into the PLE. We’re still over a month away from the event.
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