Cody Rhodes created one of the most talked about moments from the April 3 episode of WWE SmackDown, and it did not take long for the fallout to spill outside the ring.

After being laid out earlier in the night by Pat McAfee and Randy Orton, Rhodes returned later in the show with something to say. The segment quickly shifted from addressing the attack to mocking the reveal that McAfee had been the mystery voice influencing Orton. Rhodes leaned into wrestling history to make his point, drawing a comparison that instantly caught attention.

“We all got dressed up to find out who it was that Randy was talking to on the phone. Then it was Pat McAfee. That is the same as the third member of the nWo not being Hulk Hogan, but Disco Inferno.”

The line landed as a clear shot, and it did not take long for it to circulate across social media, with fans debating the comparison and revisiting the infamous nWo reveal Rhodes referenced. While many saw it as a sharp and humorous jab, it also reopened an old rivalry that had been simmering for years.

Disco Inferno did not stay quiet. After catching wind of the promo, he responded publicly with a message that quickly drew attention due to its tone.

“If I catch @CodyRhodes on Old canton Rd when I go back to visit my mom, that boy might get a good ol’ fashioned Marietta tushy kickin’.”

The response added another layer to the situation, especially given the history between the two. This is not the first time Rhodes and Disco Inferno have clashed. Their issues date back several years, when Rhodes fired off a strong response to criticism about modern wrestling. At the time, he questioned Disco’s legacy and impact in the business in a way that clearly left a lasting impression.

“Stop. You know nothing. You have drawn 0 dollars. No fan has ever left a show thinking about you. You were lucky to be a juiced up double-lifer ‘over with the boys’ type in an era where you hid in plain sight coasting on others' success. Couldn't hang then, can't get booked now.”

If I catch @CodyRhodes on Old canton Rd when I go back to visit my mom, that boy might get a good ol' fashion Marietta tushy kickin' https://t.co/QbNXsY6WVJ

, Glenn Gilbertti (@TheRealDisco) April 4, 2026