Cody Rhodes Reportedly Not Expected To Make Return During Royal Rumble Match

WWE fans welcomed the new year with much excitement as they finally had a conclusion with regard to Merceds Mone's pro wrestling future.

Now, they turn their attention to Cody Rhodes' seemingly impending return.

Rhodes had been out of action due to a torn pectoral muscle ahead of his Match of the Year-performance against Seth Rollins in the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view in June of last year, with fans musing about when WWE will re-debut him.

The current belief is that Rhodes will be a surprise entrant in the always-exciting and cameo-filled Royal Rumble spectacle on January 28 of this year, but it seems that it will not be the case this time around.

Renowned pro wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer revealed on the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio that Rhodes' return is definitely happening, but in a different manner.

"I had always figured that Cody Rhodes' return would be a surprise at the Royal Rumble, but it's absolutely not going to be, as they're doing a multi-part series building up his return," Meltzer stated.

It can be considered a massive development, even a surprise, since Rhodes was seen as a minus-130 favorite by oddsmakers about three weeks away from the event.

Rhodes himself even played along with the Royal Rumble tease during the San Diego Comic-Con on July 21 of last year.

"My Royal Rumble stats are Top 10... So, if I was to come back at that event, there is a chance I could actually get up in the top five and I'm all about that .... You never know! We'll see," Rhodes stated at the time.

Meltzer's comments about WWE building up Rhodes' return does make sense as he posted a near-three-minute vignette on his Twitter page featuring his WrestleMania return.

WWE has been giving Rhodes top-billing status since making his way back to the company, as they should since he was able to make a name for himself outside of the company, even helping to establish their biggest rival in years in the form of All Elite Wrestling (AEW).

To the general audience, it would seem strange for WWE to keep Rhodes out of the Royal Rumble as the winner would be guaranteed a title shot at WrestleMania 39.

Whether because it is too predictable or because they have other ways of building him up for "The Showcase of the Immortals," such factors will remain up in the air until the days leading up to and during the Royal Rumble itself.

Meltzer did add that WWE has him slotted "in a high place at WrestleMania," so the promotion does have plans for him to be a featured attraction.

More updates regarding Rhodes' return to the squared-circle are expected to come out in the following days.