WWE had different plans for the opening segment of this week’s SmackDown that featured WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes previewing his Ladder Match against Kevin Owens at the WWE Royal Rumble event next month.
Rhodes was interrupted by Drew McIntyre, who cut a promo about how Rhodes was about to make the biggest mistake of his career and offered to help. Rhodes wasn’t interested, so he challenged him to a match that night, only for McIntyre to decline. He said he didn’t want to hurt Rhodes, but Rhodes should watch his back. Owens attacked Rhodes from behind, leading to a brawl before they were separated.
PWInsider.com reports there were a lot of late revisions to the opening segment, as originally the plan was for the segment to be with an opening Owens promo that would see McIntyre and Rhodes get involved. The report noted, “There was a lot of bouncing back and forth on what would best for everyone involved creatively, and they landed on the version that played out.”
It was added that WWE had talked about having Jey Uso get involved before they went to what they did. Shawn Daivari produced the segment.
