Despite a backstage staredown between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns following Clash in Italy, there are no plans for the two to meet in a match during the summer of 2026, per WrestleVotes.
Why WWE booked the brief encounter between both world champions backstage in Turin has not been explained. Rhodes and Reigns are currently 1-1 in singles matches — Reigns defeated Rhodes at WrestleMania 39, Rhodes ended Reigns’ multi-year title reign at WrestleMania XL. A third match had been teased as the WrestleMania 42 main event following their WarGames team’s loss to The Vision at Survivor Series 2025, but those plans were scrapped.
Rhodes said earlier this year that he and Reigns have a “very strange” personal relationship and they were reportedly kept apart on the set of the Street Fighter film, in which Reigns plays Akuma and Rhodes portrays Guile. Both men are currently world champions. WrestleVotes noted the next logical opportunity for the match could be a future WWE Crown Jewel event, which has been built around champion versus champion matches.
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