Cody Rhodes announces tag team tournament amid heel turn speculation

Cody Rhodes has made several significant moves within WWE, including the announcement of the 2026 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. The tournament will feature 14 teams from across WWE, NXT, Lucha Libre AAA, and EVOLVE, with Rhodes set to present the trophy in person.

Recent storylines on SmackDown have fueled speculation regarding a potential heel turn for Rhodes. Following a match where he declined to strike Randy Orton, Rhodes appeared composed in a televised interview with Michael Cole. However, Triple H shared behind-the-scenes footage of Rhodes using profanity after the interview concluded, leading some to suggest a shift in character.

WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray criticized Rhodes' polished appearance during recent segments, suggesting it lacked the raw emotion seen in his father Dusty Rhodes' career. Ray proposed a storyline confrontation between Rhodes and Triple H to address the release of the off-camera footage.