Cody Rhodes turned 41 on June 30, 2026, and received a sarcastic birthday wish from Sami Zayn.

What happened?

Sami Zayn, the new Undisputed WWE Champion, trolled Cody Rhodes with a 'friendly' birthday message on X/Twitter.

Cody Rhodes had previously stated that Sami Zayn would probably never win a world title.

Why it matters for Cody Rhodes

Sami Zayn's tweet included a photo of himself smiling with the WWE Championship belt in clear view, rubbing it in Cody Rhodes' face.

This comes after Sami Zayn shocked Cody Rhodes and Gunther at Night of Champions to win his first WWE Championship.

What comes next?

Sami Zayn's first title defense as champion will take place on this week's episode of SmackDown, which was taped following this week's RAW.

Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn have been at odds for several weeks, with Cody Rhodes bringing up Sami Zayn's best friend, Kevin Owens, saying he's won a world title.

Sami Zayn responded by winning the WWE Championship, and now he's enjoying his achievement with a chill convertible drive with the title belt.

The episode of SmackDown will feature Sami Zayn's first title defense, with his opponent already revealed at the taping.

Cody Rhodes will likely be watching closely to see how Sami Zayn performs in his first title defense.

Sami Zayn's victory at Night of Champions was a significant upset, and he's looking to prove himself as a worthy champion.

The rivalry between Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn is far from over, with Sami Zayn's sarcastic birthday message adding fuel to the fire.

The WWE universe will be eagerly awaiting the next match between these two superstars.

Cody Rhodes will be looking to regain the momentum and take back the title from Sami Zayn.

The battle between Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn is one of the most exciting storylines in the WWE right now.

With Sami Zayn's first title defense coming up, fans will be on the edge of their seats to see what happens next.

The outcome of this match will have significant implications for the WWE Championship and the rivalry between Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn.

As the WWE Championship picture continues to unfold, one thing is certain - Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn will be at the center of it all.

The question on everyone's mind is what's next for Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn.

Only time will tell how this rivalry plays out, but one thing is for sure - it will be an exciting ride.

The WWE universe is eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn saga.

For now, Cody Rhodes will have to wait and see how Sami Zayn's first title defense plays out.

The stage is set for an epic battle between these two superstars, and the WWE universe can't wait to see what happens next.

As the days go by, the tension between Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn will continue to build.

The rivalry between Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn is one for the ages, and it's far from over.

In the end, only one man can emerge victorious, but for now, the battle between Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn is what's making the WWE so exciting.

And as the WWE Championship picture continues to unfold, Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn will be right in the middle of it all.

So the question remains - what's next for Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn?

But for now, we'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out.

The WWE universe is on the edge of their seats, waiting to see what happens next in the rivalry between Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn.

It's going to be an exciting ride, and we can't wait to see what's in store for these two superstars.

As the days go by, the tension will continue to build, and the battle between Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn will be one for the ages.

For Cody Rhodes, the goal is clear - take back the WWE Championship and prove himself as the best.

But Sami Zayn has other plans, and he's determined to hold on to the title.

The stage is set for an epic battle, and the WWE universe can't wait to see what happens next.

The rivalry between Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn is what's making the WWE so exciting, and it's far from over.

In the end, only one man can emerge victorious, but for now, the battle between Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn is what's making the WWE so exciting.