4 New challengers for Cody Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship after Survivor Series

Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes didn't have a good outing at Survivor Series: WarGames. Despite having CM Punk and Roman Reigns on his side, Rhodes ended up on the losing side.

Neither of the three showed up on Monday Night RAW this week. Moreover, the fans are also looking forward to John Cena's final match at Saturday Night's Main Event (SNME) on December 13, 2025 this month.

However, in the back of his mind, Cody might have also pondered over the next challengers to his title. Most probably, he will not defend his title at SNME this month and will defend it only next year at the Royal Rumble, which is on January 31 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

In this listicle, we will discuss four potential challengers to Cody Rhodes' Undisputed WWE title.

#4 Drew McIntyre

Drew McIntyre can once again challenge Cody Rhodes after being on the winning side at Survivor Series: WarGames. However, one must not forget that he is still suspended, and SmackDown General Manager, Nick Aldis, still hasn't lifted the suspension on him.

The Scottish Warrior had taken out a match referee on the November 7 edition of SmackDown during Cody's match against Aleister Black. Aldis had suspended McIntyre on the spot. However, Paul Heyman later recruited him to his team for the WarGames match.

And if McIntyre challenges Cody once again, this would be the third time the two would be going against each other for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Before this, he had faced and lost to Cody at Wrestlepalooza and SNME.

It will be interesting to see how WWE manages McIntyre's suspension now and his booking on SmackDown.

#3 Jacob Fatu

Jacob Fatu could be another potential challenger to Cody Rhodes' Undisputed WWE Championship if he returns this week. In fact, the Samoan Werewolf was in line to have a title shot against Cody after a No. 1 Contender's match against Drew McIntyre, on the October 17 edition of SmackDown.

However, he was attacked backstage right before the match, and McIntyre went on to face Cody. It was later revealed that the injury angle was done to take Fatu off TV as he needed time for his dental issues.

But now, it is rumored that the former US Champion could be back in the mix of things against. According to a report by PWInsider, Jacob Fatu was close to making a comeback.

At first, he would go after the person who attacked him, which most probably would be Drew McIntyre. And after knowing that it was McIntyre, Cody Rhodes himself can give a title match to Jacob Fatu.

#2 Randy Orton

Randy Orton hasn't shown up in WWE since the October 3 edition of SmackDown, when he teamed up with Cody Rhodes to face The Vision. Seth Rollins played the spoiler that night, and Orton ended up on the losing side.

Since then, there have been rumors that WWE could finally be going for a heel turn of Randy Orton, and could book him against Cody Rhodes. In fact, the fans have been wanting Randy Orton's title match against Cody Rhodes for a long time. Orton had even told Rhodes sometime back that he would indeed be going for his 15th WWE Championship.

Orton and Rhodes have clashed against each other only once, and that too in a non-title match, in the finals of the King of the Ring tournament earlier this year. A heel Orton was always special, and it would generate immense excitement among the fans if The Viper returns as a villain and then goes after Cody Rhodes.

#1 Former WWE Champion, Roman Reigns

It has been rumored that Roman Reigns has told WWE that he wants to once again get back in the title picture. One must not forget that Reigns never got the rematch after losing his title to Cody at WrestleMania 40.

Since then, he has made fewer appearances on TV and has only performed at big WWE PLEs. The OTC1 has been more of a part-time performer in WWE for the past one and a half years. And, if Roman Reigns wants to get back full-time, then it would also be good for the business.

Roman Reigns getting back in the title picture could also ring the warning bells for Cody Rhodes. That was, in fact, evident at Survivor Series, when Reigns told Rhodes that it was the last time he had teamed up with him.

The company can book Reigns as the winner of next year's Royal Rumble, which would allow him a title shot against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 42. And if Reigns gets into a match with Cody at Mania next year, there are huge chances of him walking out as the winner.

It now remains to be seen how the company wants to book Cody Rhodes' title match from next year.