4 Things Cody Rhodes can do on WWE SmackDown this week

Cody Rhodes recently suffered a bitter loss to The Vision in the WarGames Match at Survivor Series. It was a big hit for him as the Undisputed WWE Champion, which might have taken a toll on his morale. With that defeat, fans now wonder what the next chapter holds for The American Nightmare on WWE SmackDown.

The Prodigal Son is advertised to appear on tonight's episode of the show from Austin, Texas. For the past few weeks, Rhodes has been busy with The Vision. Therefore, tonight's show is likely to address the matter with the Undisputed WWE Title moving forward. Besides, fans might witness the rise of a new challenger for the title on the blue brand tonight.

Without further ado, let's discuss 4 Things Cody Rhodes can do on WWE SmackDown this week:

#4. Deliver a defiant promo

Cody Rhodes could appear in the ring to potentially open the show this week. With a serious look, The American Nightmare could deliver an intense promo to the WWE Universe. He might address his recent feud with Drew McIntyre and his loss against The Vision. That said, Rhodes could make it clear that he is now more serious than ever about carrying the championship gold, and that recent setbacks do not faze him.

WWE's next PLE is the Royal Rumble, which is more than a month away. Therefore, the company might push the next feud for The American Nightmare for the next few weeks. As a result, such a promo could be a perfect way to give Rhodes' character on SmackDown a soft reset. Besides, it could provide WWE some time to think about creatively what is next for The American Nightmare in the company.

#3. Gets confronted by Randy Orton

Randy Orton has been away from the ring for the past few months, and fans have been clamoring to see him back. Now that WWE's Survivor Series is over, it could be a perfect time to bring back The Viper. Besides, WWE has been teasing that Orton wants to become the Undisputed WWE Champion. Therefore, he could make his return tonight to confront The American Nightmare.

WWE could present an intense confrontation between Rhodes and Orton, where The Apex Predator could remind his former mentee what it means to be a champion. In the thick of things, he could express his interest in coming after the championship gold, putting Cody on notice. Such an angle could be a simple yet powerful foundation for a potential feud between the stars down the line.

#2. Compete in an impromptu match

Cody Rhodes could be in action tonight on SmackDown. The American Nightmare was involved in a rugged angle with Aleister Black a few weeks ago. There are chances that the former AEW star might confront Rhodes tonight as well. Cody's arch nemesis, Drew McIntyre, could also jump in the conversation to team up with Black against The American Nightmare.

Such an angle could lead to a tag team match between Black and McIntyre, taking on Rhodes and a mystery partner. The Prodigal Son could try to find a partner all night on SmackDown, only to be revealed as Randy Orton later on the show. It could be an interesting story for tonight's show that could prompt The Viper's comeback in an all-star main event in Texas.

#1. Cody Rhodes gets attacked by Drew McIntyre

Drew McIntyre has been after Cody Rhodes for the past two months in WWE. The Scottish Warrior wants to become the Undisputed WWE Champion, and he has failed in his quest every single time against The American Nightmare. However, tonight, McIntyre might lay down a final blow on Rhodes to mark the final chapter of their feud.

The Scottish man could attack Rhodes from behind during his entrance on the show. McIntyre might unleash unrestrained fury on The Prodigal Son, launching a savage ambush that could leave him bruised and battered. It could force the WWE authorities to intervene in order to protect the Undisputed WWE Champion. Such an angle could create the building blocks for Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre's final arc on SmackDown before the year ends.