Rapper Travis Scott may have really injured undisputed WWE champion Cody Rhodes during Saturday’s Elimination Chamber premium live event in Canada.
Scott joined WWE superstars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena in taking turns pummeling Rhodes in the ring, and the beatdown may have left a real mark on “The American Nightmare,” according to professional wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer.
“Cody got hurt,” Meltzer revealed on the latest episode of “Wrestling Observer Radio.” “I’m pretty sure it was Travis Scott that did it. I heard [Rhodes] had a busted eardrum and a black eye.”
Fans had speculated the Houston native may have actually hit Rhodes instead of throwing a “working punch,” which looks real but has minimal actual contact.
The pummeling began after Cena defeated CM Punk and four others to win the Elimination Chamber match, earning a ticket to take on Rhodes for his championship at WrestleMania 41 next month.
As Rhodes entered the ring to congratulate Cena, Scott’s hit song “FE!N” blared through the speakers and the rapper entered the arena moments before The Rock’s entrance music was remixed in and the pair walked to the ring together.
The “Black Adam” star’s current WWE storyline involves him wanting Rhodes to give him “his soul,” becoming the Rock’s personal champion in exchange for greater influence and success inside and outside of the wrestling world.
Rhodes had until Saturday night to decide whether to accept the real-life WWE board member’s offer. But at the urging of fans — and Cena — Rhodes refused the Final Boss’s offer.
“Hey Rock, go f–k yourself!” Rhodes shouted into Johnson’s face.
Cena, star of “Ricky Stanicky” and “Peacemaker,” commended the champion on his decision and the two embraced in the ring.
But, what happened next would end up being one of the most historic character turns in WWE history.
The Rock signaled to Cena with a finger sliding across his neck, and Cena, a longtime good guy, or babyface in wrestling talk, kicked Rhodes in the groin, marking his unprecedented turn into a villainous heel — a role he hasn’t played in over 20 years.
The Rock and later Scott joined in the beating of the WWE champion.
So far neither Scott’s camp nor the WWE have confirmed if Rhodes’s injuries were caused by the artist.
In a post-show press conference, the Rock hinted that fans haven’t seen the last of Scott in the ring.
“He wanted to get his hands bloody,” Johnson explained. “I whispered to him as he was going out [to the ring]. I said, ‘If you’re going to get your hands bloody, make it count. Make it count. He slapped the s–t out of Cody tonight. He was really, really hyped up.”
On Tuesday the WWE posted a behind-the-scenes video of the Grammy-nominated rapper slapping hands with WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque.
The adrenaline-fueled Scott explained how the rush he felt in the ring was better than the feeling onstage.
“It was like a whole other vibe!” he exclaimed. “I’m already hooked.”
“I’m about to build an arena in all the cribs!” he said before hugging The Rock. “Alright, say no more, I’m coming back 100 pounds bigger!”
This isn’t the first time Scott has appeared at a WWE event.
He escorted wrestler Jey Uso into the ring during Raw’s Netflix debut at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Jan. 6.
WrestleMania 41 takes place at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 19 and 20.