Summary

Cody Rhodes addressed the fallout from WrestleMania 42 on this week's SmackDown, using the moment to send a message to the people he believes have kept trying to interfere with his plans.

Rhodes appeared after retaining his title against Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42. That match already left plenty of fallout, including the chaotic finish to Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42 Saturday, and Rhodes made it clear on SmackDown that he still sees outside involvement as part of the bigger story.

Quote from Cody Rhodes

"The most important message I want to send is to those outside forces that keep interceding and interjecting into my WrestleMania plans that want to get involved in this Nightmare Family party. I'll make it simple. You guys are 0-3. Send your best or count your money and mind your damn business."

Cody Rhodes and WWE's post-WrestleMania direction

Rhodes naming those outside forces again keeps that issue alive even after he got past Orton at WrestleMania 42. WWE now has a clear thread to revisit on SmackDown, especially because Rhodes had already taken a similar public shot when Pat McAfee was revealed as the mystery man tied to the Orton story.

That matters because Rhodes was not speaking like a champion closing one chapter and moving on quietly. He framed this as an ongoing fight around his title picture, which gives WWE room to keep the interference theme in play as his next feud comes into focus.

Sources

As reported by Fightful