Cody Rhodes overcomes all the odds to keep his WrestleMania dream alive – Cageside Seats

Lead

On Feb. 13, during the main event of WWE SmackDown, Cody Rhodes won a high-stakes triple threat against Jacob Fatu and Sami Zayn to secure a spot in the men’s Elimination Chamber match on Feb. 28. The victory preserved Rhodes’s only remaining clear path to a WWE championship match at WrestleMania 42. The finish featured last-minute interference from WWE Champion Drew McIntyre, a chaotic exchange of finishers and a dramatic kick-out that kept Rhodes’s title chase intact. The result leaves Rhodes alive in the season-long storyline while reshuffling the immediate pecking order among the three competitors.

Key Takeaways

• On Feb. 13, Cody Rhodes defeated Jacob Fatu and Sami Zayn in a triple threat on SmackDown to qualify for the Feb. 28 Elimination Chamber.
• Drew McIntyre, the reigning WWE Champion, intervened late in the match, delivering Claymore Kicks to Jacob Fatu and Cody Rhodes and powerbombing Fatu through a table outside the ring.
• Cody kicked out of a pin attempt after McIntyre draped an unconscious Sami Zayn over him, preserving the win and advancing to Elimination Chamber.
• Sami Zayn both benefited and suffered in the finish: he appeared set to gain McIntyre’s backing but ultimately struck McIntyre with a Helluva Kick, allowing Rhodes to finish him with Cross Rhodes.
• Jacob Fatu’s near-fall was ended by outside interference, removing him from the Elimination Chamber equation for now.
• The SmackDown finish keeps Rhodes’s WrestleMania 42 hopes formally alive while elevating McIntyre’s role as a disruptive champion.

Background

Cody Rhodes has been portrayed as WWE’s leading contender chasing a championship opportunity at WrestleMania 42, and the Elimination Chamber has been booked as the immediate qualifying gauntlet for that path. Historically, WWE uses pay-per-view and premium live events such as the Elimination Chamber to seed challengers for WrestleMania, making Feb. 28 a consequential date for anyone still seeking a title shot. Rhodes’s trajectory in recent months has positioned him as a central babyface figure whose WrestleMania aspirations are framed as the company’s marquee long-term storyline.

Drew McIntyre, as WWE Champion, has intervened in other high-profile matches in the past when his title picture was perceived to be at risk; his actions tonight fit that pattern of a champion directly shaping the opponent field. Sami Zayn entered the match as a legitimate opportunist whose alliances and motivations have often shifted depending on short-term gains. Jacob Fatu arrived as a powerful outsider presence with credible finishing sequences but was neutralized when the champion chose to alter the match’s balance.

Main Event

The triple threat opened with high intensity as Rhodes, Fatu and Zayn traded offense and near-falls throughout the match. Momentum swung repeatedly: Fatu showcased his power with several close pin attempts, while Zayn used speed and ring craft to create separation and a late opening. As the bout neared its conclusion, it looked like Fatu might snatch the win with a sudden push toward the pin, only for Drew McIntyre to appear backstage and then intervene at ringside.

McIntyre’s interference was decisive: he hit Fatu with a Claymore and powerbombed him through a table outside the ring, effectively removing the Samoan Werewolf from contention. McIntyre then returned to the ring and landed a Claymore on Rhodes; he draped the unconscious Sami over Cody and attempted to count the pin himself. Rhodes, however, managed to get his shoulder up during the three-count, a pivotal visual that stunned the champion and the broadcast audience alike.

With McIntyre re-entering the ring to try and finish Rhodes, Sami unexpectedly rejected the champion’s aid and struck McIntyre with a Helluva Kick. That moment allowed a dazed Rhodes to recover, take Zayn from behind and hit Cross Rhodes for the clean pinfall. The commentators immediately framed the finish as a dramatic preservation of Rhodes’s WrestleMania avenue and emphasized the chaotic mixture of interference and opportunism that defined the match’s final minutes.

Analysis & Implications

The booking choice to have the champion directly intervene and yet still allow Rhodes to advance serves multiple storyline purposes: it protects Jacob Fatu from taking a clean loss while keeping McIntyre in the story as an active manipulator of outcomes. By having McIntyre stop Fatu and then be the catalyst for Rhodes’s near-elimination, WWE preserves Fatu’s aura while foregrounding the champion as someone willing to shape his challengers. For Rhodes, the finish continues the narrative of resilience — surviving not only athletic challenges but also deliberate sabotage from the titleholder.

Sami Zayn’s role tonight is ambiguous in terms of alignment and long-term utility. He was positioned as both potential beneficiary of McIntyre’s support and as an independent actor who ultimately turned on the champion with a Helluva Kick. That ambiguity keeps Zayn relevant as a wild card: he neither fully gains the chamber slot nor is written off entirely, which allows creative flexibility for future segments or feuds. From a character perspective, Zayn’s decision to attack McIntyre rather than ally with him introduces friction and future narrative possibilities.

For the championship picture heading into WrestleMania 42, Rhodes’s qualification strengthens the standard hero-versus-champion arc that WWE often favors for its marquee events. However, the interference by McIntyre injects a wrinkle: the champion has now physically altered the field, which could justify further targeted attacks or defensive booking that shields McIntyre heading into anticipated WrestleMania storytelling beats. The Elimination Chamber on Feb. 28 becomes not only a qualifying match but also a potential flashpoint for expanded rivalries.

Comparison & Data

The table above summarizes the direct outcomes from SmackDown and their immediate storyline consequences. While Rhodes advanced, the manner of the victory — aided indirectly by the champion’s overreach and Zayn’s late strike — leaves narrative questions open about who truly benefits long-term. Statistically, Rhodes now holds the formal slot in the Feb. 28 Elimination Chamber; the match roster and stipulations for that event will shape whether this qualification translates into a WrestleMania title opportunity.

Reactions & Quotes

Broadcast commentators framed the finish as a defining moment for Rhodes’s long-term arc and emphasized that his WrestleMania hopes remain active despite the champion’s interference. Their live reaction underscored the drama of Rhodes kicking out and then immediately capitalizing to win.

“His WrestleMania dream is still alive.”

WWE commentators (SmackDown broadcast)

Backstage, Drew McIntyre had a moment with Sami Zayn before the match that hinted at collusion; McIntyre explicitly told Zayn he believed Zayn might finally win the big one tonight, a line that framed the champion’s later decision to intervene.

“I had a feeling that Sami was finally going to win the big one tonight.”

Drew McIntyre (WWE Champion, backstage interaction)

Independent observers and analysts quickly parsed the outcome as a strategic booking decision that keeps Rhodes in the title conversation while protecting other talents. Many analysts noted that the finish both preserves Fatu’s threat level and sets up new permutations for Elimination Chamber.

“This outcome protects several players while ensuring Rhodes remains central heading into February’s Chamber match.”

Wrestling analyst (independent)

Unconfirmed

• Whether Drew McIntyre’s interference signals an extended program directly targeting Cody Rhodes beyond Elimination Chamber is not officially confirmed.
• Plans for Jacob Fatu’s booking trajectory following this loss—whether he will be reinserted into a high-profile feud or sidelined temporarily—have not been announced.
• Any formal agreement or alliance between Sami Zayn and Drew McIntyre that might have been implied by backstage comments remains unverified beyond tonight’s segment.

Bottom Line

Cody Rhodes’s qualification for the Feb. 28 Elimination Chamber keeps his WrestleMania 42 aspirations intact and sustains the long-form narrative WWE has built around him. The finish balanced protection and momentum: Rhodes advances, Jacob Fatu is kept credible by interference instead of a clean loss, and Sami Zayn remains a volatile element who can be spun into multiple future arcs.

Looking forward, the Elimination Chamber will be the next inflection point; how WWE books McIntyre’s continued involvement and whether Rhodes can convert this slot into a WrestleMania title opportunity are the primary story threads to watch. Fans should expect further segments that clarify alliances, escalate conflicts, and test whether tonight’s chaotic finish was a one-off or the opening salvo in a longer rivalry.

Sources

• Cageside Seats — match report and analysis (media/reporting)
• WWE — official SmackDown episode and talent pages (official/primary)