The tension between Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn is rising after last week’s SmackDown’s Elimination Chamber qualifying match.
The February 20 episode of WWE SmackDown started off with a heated confrontation between Rhodes, Jacob Fatu and WWE Champion Drew McIntyre.
Later in the show, the focus shifted to a backstage segment between Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn. Zayn was still upset about losing last week’s triple-threat qualifier. In that match, McIntyre interrupted and wanted to help him win the qualifier. However, Zayn refused help from McIntyre because he wanted to win the right way and got rid of him with a Helluva Kick.
But after Zayn took out McIntyre, Rhodes took advantage of an unprepared Zayn and hit him from behind with his finisher and stole the win.
Backstage Tension Builds Between Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn
Now, during this week’s episode, Zayn confronted Rhodes about his actions last week.
However, Rhodes tried to brush it off, telling Zayn his recent losses were just bad luck. The Canadian star didn’t agree and said Rhodes betrayed him after he tried to do the right thing. The former WWE Champion, in return, said that it was all Zayn’s “perspective,” as the real situation was way more chaotic, and “it’s an opportunity” that he “took advantage of.”
That’s when Rhodes got a bit off by saying it’s all Zayn’s fault that he couldn’t be a WWE Champion yet, as he didn’t take such opportunities.
“Those opportunities, they don’t just plop in your lap, Sami. Those are the opportunities that have come to you and you haven’t taken advantage of them and that’s why you haven’t become WWE Champion,” Rhodes said.
"And that's why you haven't become WWE Champion…"@CodyRhodes, that was outta pocket ? pic.twitter.com/Bct6bhnW3l
— WWE (@WWE) February 21, 2026
That visibly made Zayn upset, and he went on to call Rhodes the company’s “Golden Boy,” saying the former AEW star got to finish his story while he had been chasing his own dream for over 10 years.
But Cody Rhodes didn’t back down and repeated that Zayn is his own biggest obstacle.
Later, Zayn calmed down and apologized to Rhodes.
