The latest episode of WWE SmackDown from Barcelona, Spain, gave fans a lot of action, but wrestling veteran Vince Russo was not impressed with how WWE handled Cody Rhodes’ segment.
Although The American Nightmare took on The Miz and won in quick fashion, many fans and experts, including Russo, felt the booking was underwhelming, especially for a city hosting its first-ever SmackDown event.
Cody Rhodes Defeats The Miz in Seconds on SmackDown
During the show, Cody Rhodes made quick work of The Miz, defeating him in under 10 seconds. After the match, Cody once again called out John Cena, continuing their storyline following Cena’s betrayal at Elimination Chamber.
While some fans enjoyed seeing Cody, others expected a longer match or a heartfelt promo, especially since Barcelona is not a regular stop for WWE.
Vince Russo Criticizes WWE for Poor Booking
Speaking on Sportskeeda Wrestling’s WrestleBinge podcast (BroDown episode), Vince Russo criticized WWE’s creative direction for how they booked Cody Rhodes’ segment. Russo pointed out that fans in Barcelona paid good money and waited a long time for this show, only to get a short squash match and no meaningful interaction from Cody.
Here’s what Russo said:
“Let’s look at what they did with these Barcelonians. So these Barcelonians buy tickets for this God knows how long in advance. God knows how much they pay, and they are so freaking excited to come to this show. Okay… We get no Rock. We get no Cena off the bat. Okay? Then Cody’s advertised. We get no Cody. Like, Cody doesn’t cut a promo, ‘Barcelona, what do you want to talk about?'”
Russo’s main argument was that Cody didn’t even address the live crowd properly, missing a great opportunity to connect with the fans.
Paul Heyman’s Promo Disappointed Fans Too
Russo also criticized Paul Heyman’s appearance, saying that instead of giving fans something memorable, Heyman simply announced that Roman Reigns wasn’t there.
Russo said:
“We get Cody laying out Miz in 10 seconds. But wait, Mac, they’re not done. They’re not done. Then what do they do? They put the Walrus [Heyman] out there… He’s telling the Barcelonian crowd. You ready for this, Mac? Roman’s gonna be here, but not tonight. Not tonight.”
Considering this was Barcelona’s first SmackDown event ever, Russo believed WWE should have done more to make it special for the fans.
While WWE SmackDown in Barcelona had some big moments, including Cody Rhodes calling out John Cena, many fans felt let down by the short match and lack of interaction. Vince Russo’s criticism reflects what many WWE Universe members were thinking — that international crowds deserve a full show experience, not just quick matches and no-shows from top stars.
With WrestleMania 41 on the horizon, WWE may need to rethink how they handle such important international markets to keep global fans happy and engaged.
FAQs
What happened between Cody Rhodes and The Miz on SmackDown?
Cody Rhodes defeated The Miz in under 10 seconds on WWE SmackDown in Barcelona and then called out John Cena again.
Why did Vince Russo criticize WWE’s SmackDown booking?
Vince Russo criticized WWE for booking Cody Rhodes in a short match without letting him cut a proper promo for the Barcelona crowd, and for not featuring top stars like Roman Reigns and John Cena live.
Was Roman Reigns at WWE SmackDown in Barcelona?
No, Roman Reigns did not appear live on SmackDown in Barcelona. Paul Heyman informed the crowd that Roman would not be there that night.
Did Cody Rhodes call out John Cena on SmackDown?
Yes, after his quick victory over The Miz, Cody Rhodes once again called out John Cena for his betrayal at Elimination Chamber.
What was Vince Russo’s main complaint about SmackDown in Barcelona?
Vince Russo felt that WWE let down the Barcelona crowd by not delivering major stars and having Cody Rhodes do only a quick match without a proper promo to engage the fans.
