Cody Rhodes set to return at WWE Royal Rumble six months after horrific torn pec

WWE superstar Cody Rhodes has announced he will be making his long-awaited return at the 2023 Royal Rumble.

The Royal Rumble match has long been the destination for surprises, returns, and some of the most memorable moments in WWE history.

And Rhodes' return will be no different.

The 37-year-old hasn’t been in action since he shocked fans by competing at Hell in a Cell in June with a completely torn pectoral muscle.

The wrestler earned a tonne of respect from fans after he turned up for a match against Seth Rollins sporting blue and purple bruising across his chest and arm.

It had been reported by Fightful that the American was hoping to make his return at the January 28 event.

Return videos for the superstar had been airing on Monday Night Raw, and now it’s been confirmed.

In a video that aired on the recent edition of Raw the American Nightmare made an emphatic announcement.

He said: “The question is no longer if (I’ll return), but when.

“Since I came back at Wrestlemania I have made it crystal clear what I want.

“At the Royal Rumble, I’m back.”

The accompanying video showed updated images of his once bruised chest, which seems to have completely healed and now dons a scar.

Rhodes is considered the favourite to win the Rumble and go on to Main Event Wrestlemania for the WWE Championship or Universal Championship, or both, according to Bleacher Report.

Others with high odds of winning include The Rock and Sami Zayn, with any winner presumably facing Roman reigns for the championship.

Rhodes famously, or rather infamously, left the WWE back in 2015 to join rival company AEW where he went on to become executive vice president.

The split was pretty ugly to say the least with various verbal pleasantries being exchanged by both parties throughout the break-up.

But now, seven years later, 'American Nightmare' Rhodes has made his comeback and has proved once and for all that he's the main event draw that he always said he was.

He defeated Seth Rollins at Wrestlemania in his return, however, the breaks have had to be placed on his comeback due to the injury.

He’ll be hoping he can quickly gain momentum again upon his second return within a year.

Featured Image Credit: WWE/Twitter.

Topics: WWE, Royal Rumble

Jayden Collins

Jayden Collins is a Journalist at SPORTbible. He has worked across multiple media platforms in areas such as sport, music, pop culture, entertainment and politics. He is part of the editorial team for LADbible Australia.