Wrestling

WWE News: Cody Rhodes Talks Retirement, Crown Jewel Stays in Saudi Arabia

The American Nightmare is not leaving yet, Crown Jewel is still on and Penta is holding the briefcase. Here is the week in WWE.

A wrestling match performance in Sikeston, Missouri, May 1938. Two wrestlers grapple while the referee (in white, right) looks on. The beard
A wrestling match performance in Sikeston, Missouri, May 1938. Two wrestlers grapple while the referee (in white, right) looks on. The beardPhoto: Russell Lee, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

It was a busy week in WWE. Cody Rhodes gave fans an update on how long he plans to keep wrestling, Crown Jewel is still headed to Saudi Arabia, and a WWE legend gave everyone a scare. Here is what you need to know.

Cody Rhodes Sets His Retirement Timeline

Cody Rhodes is not going anywhere soon. The face of WWE indicated he has several more years left in the ring before he retires, but he is already thinking about how to leave on his own terms.

"I don't want to overstay my welcome," Rhodes said. For a performer who spent years building himself into WWE's top star, the comment shows he wants his final run to feel like a celebration, not a slow fade.

Crown Jewel Is Still On for November 7

WWE Crown Jewel remains scheduled for November 7 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. TKO executive Ari Emanuel discussed the event's status in an appearance on Fox News, and backstage reports say the company is moving ahead with its plans. To manage travel, one of WWE's shows before the premium live event will likely be taped in advance.

Penta Plans His Cash-In

Penta is still taking in his Money in the Bank win. He said he is amazed to be holding the briefcase and explained his plans for cashing it in, which means any champion on the roster has to keep looking over their shoulder.

The same show produced one of the scariest moments of the year: Tiffany Stratton took a rough, high-risk fall from a ladder. New updates on her condition have since emerged.

Survivor Series: WarGames Lineups Taking Shape

Planning for Survivor Series is underway. Reports say the men's WarGames match will again feature five wrestlers per team, with potential lineups already being discussed backstage.

Ric Flair Hospitalized After a Fall

WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair was reportedly taken to a Tampa hospital after a fall on Friday morning. Fans across the wrestling world are sending their support to "The Nature Boy."

Around the Wrestling World

  • Big E got married, with fellow wrestlers in attendance.
  • Austin Creed (formerly Xavier Woods) and Kofi have signed long-term deals with AEW after debuting at All In.
  • Chris Jericho will play a famous wrestler in an upcoming streaming series.

Get every story from the ring in our wrestling coverage, and catch up on combat sports in our UFC 333 preview.

Related reading: Adam Copeland's retirement and AEW news.

Background from Wikipedia

WWE Crown Jewel

WWE Crown Jewel is a professional wrestling premium live event (PLE) produced by WWE, an American-based promotion. It is broadcast live and available only through pay-per-view (PPV) and WWE's livestreaming platforms. Established in 2018, the event has been held every year since except in 2020, which was due to the COVID-19 pandemic that year, and it is typically held in late October—early November. Since 2024, the event has been centered around the men's and women's Crown Jewel Championship matches, held between the respective reigning men's and women's world champions of WWE's Raw and SmackDown brand divisions to determine who is the better champion.

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Frequently Asked Questions

When is WWE Crown Jewel 2026?

WWE Crown Jewel is scheduled for November 7, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

When is Cody Rhodes retiring?

Cody Rhodes has indicated he has several more years left before retiring from in-ring competition, saying he does not want to overstay his welcome.

Who won Money in the Bank 2026?

Penta won the Money in the Bank briefcase and has talked about his plans for a cash-in.

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