Major change in Cody Rhodes' career, new stipulation to be added to SNME match - 4 things The American Nightmare can do on WWE SmackDown

WWE Friday Night SmackDown will be a big show this week. It is going to be the final edition of the blue brand ahead of the return of Saturday Night's Main Event this weekend. As a result, there will be a lot of eyes on the program.

So far, a handful of major matches have been confirmed. Carmelo Hayes is set to take on a mystery opponent, plus two Women's United States Championship Tournament semi-finals matches will take place.

One star who will almost certainly appear on the program is Cody Rhodes. The American Nightmare is the World Champion and has a major title defense on Saturday, so his presence is all but certain.

This article will take a look at a handful of things Rhodes could potentially do on SmackDown tonight. This includes adding a last-minute stipulation to his Saturday Night's Main Event bout, requesting a shocking transfer, and beyond.

Below are four things Cody Rhodes could do on WWE SmackDown this week.

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#4. Cody Rhodes could add a stipulation to his match with Kevin Owens

As noted, Cody Rhodes is the Undisputed WWE Champion, and he would be defending his prized title at Saturday Night's Main Event. This would mark the return of the quarterly series after over a decade and a half, so fans are very much looking forward to the show.

However, Rhodes wouldn't have an easy night on Saturday. Kevin Owens was looking to win the Undisputed WWE Championship, but things between the two stars have been far more personal than that of a standard title bout. They have brawled, Cody has been jumped outside, and they have taken major shots at each other verbally.

As a result, Cody could reveal a stipulation for his match with Kevin at the big event this weekend. Given his past success in these match types, he could challenge Owens to a Hell in a Cell Match or even an I Quit Match with the hopes of ending their issues once and for all.

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#3. He could reveal he would be present at the RAW Netflix premiere

January 6th, 2025 will be a big day for WWE and pro wrestling as a whole. After over two decades on traditional cable, Monday Night RAW will be moving from the USA Network to Netflix in 2025, and the show's official debut will be on the 6th.

There is a lot of hype going into the show, and it is clearly being treated like a premium live event. Some big names are being advertised or are rumored to appear, including the likes of Roman Reigns and CM Punk.

WWE SmackDown's Cody Rhodes could also be one of the names that would appear on the special. He could either compete on the show, cut a promo during the event, or interact with some major names and start the build towards WrestleMania in April.

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#2. Cody could ask Randy Orton to be his corner man at Saturday Night's Main Event

As noted, things have been quite heated between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens. While the two WWE stars have a lot of animosity between them, there is a third person involved: Randy Orton. Unfortunately, he hasn't been around.

The Viper was close allies with Kevin Owens. However, once The Prizefighter turned on Cody, he later assaulted Orton and soon after hit him with a devastating Piledriver. The legendary star has been out of action ever since with neck and spinal trauma.

In what could be a big moment, Cody could take the microphone and ask Randy Orton to be his corner man at Saturday Night's Main Event this weekend. He could want Orton to see Kevin get defeated firsthand as a form of payback, but he could also want advice from his mentor mid-match.

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#1. He could ask Nick Aldis to trade him to RAW in the WWE Transfer Window

WWE made a big announcement last week with the introduction of the Transfer Window. Similar to other sports, the idea is that certain talent could be traded or moved to RAW, SmackDown, and NXT.

Nick Aldis of SmackDown, Adam Pearce of RAW, and Ava of NXT have apparently been in talks regarding certain talent movements. Beyond that, various WWE stars have appeared on brands they aren't typically part of to talk with the General Manager of that specific show.

Cody was spotted talking to Adam Pearce on Monday Night RAW, which could mean he wanted to move back to the red brand. Tonight, he could talk to his long-time friend Nick Aldis and request a move to RAW in time for the Netflix premiere. This would hurt SmackDown, but given that many of Cody's close friends are on RAW, it could be what is best for the World Champion.