What Happened with Cody Rhodes After SmackDown Camera’s Stopped Rolling in Chicago

Cody Rhodes made a surprise appearance after the April 4 episode of WWE SmackDown went off the air at the Allstate Arena in Chicago—and he gave fans one more reason to cheer before the night ended.

While the Undisputed WWE Champion didn’t appear during the actual broadcast, the show was already packed with moments. From Rey Fenix’s in-ring debut to Jacob Fatu securing a future United States Title shot, the episode had no shortage of action. It also delivered emotional moments like Kevin Owens announcing his neck injury and pulling out of his planned WrestleMania match with Randy Orton.

The night ended with a massive promo showdown between CM Punk, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins, where Punk finally revealed the favor he’s cashing in with Paul Heyman. Right before the show faded out, Punk dropped Roman with a GTS, leaving the crowd on fire.

But once the cameras stopped rolling, Chicago got one more treat. Cody Rhodes came out and faced Solo Sikoa in a dark match after the show. The match had all the drama fans could want. At one point, Sikoa tried to use a steel chair, but the referee stopped him. While the ref was distracted, Solo nailed Rhodes with a low blow.

Sikoa set up for his finishing move, but Cody reversed it into a Cross-Rhodes. He wasn’t done there—Rhodes hit two more Cross-Rhodes and pinned Sikoa clean to send the crowd home happy.

After the match, Cody grabbed the mic for a short promo and then gave away a signed weight belt to a lucky fan in the front row—ending the night on a feel-good note for the Chicago crowd.

How do you feel about Cody showing up for the fans after SmackDown? Do you think he should’ve been on the main broadcast too? Drop your thoughts in the comments—we want to hear from you.