By Thea Trinidad, now performing as Xelina, has credited Cody Rhodes with quietly rescuing her match with Giulia on WWE SmackDown. In a new interview with D.S. Shin of Ring The Belle, the former Women’s United States Champion revealed that Rhodes trimmed 10 minutes off one of his own segments to give the two women the match time they deserved.
Rhodes famously gave up part of a segment with John Cena so that the WWE Women’s United States Championship bout between Xelina and Giulia could breathe — a backstage gesture that has only now come to light.
Cody Rhodes (Credits: WWE)
Cody Rhodes Gave Up His Own TV Time
Speaking to Ring The Belle in the wide-ranging interview covering her WWE exit, Xelina explained that the women’s title match was initially slated for far less time than it needed. Rhodes stepped in and cut 10 minutes from his segment with Cena, handing the extra time to the title bout so the two wrestlers could properly show what they could do.
The gesture mattered deeply to Xelina, who has been open about the frustrations of her title reign. The match ultimately ended with Giulia defeating Zelina Vega to capture the championship — a title change that closed Xelina’s 63-day reign and kicked off Giulia’s run with the gold.
It’s a rare glimpse into Rhodes’ reputation backstage. The former Undisputed WWE Champion has long been described as one of the locker room’s strongest advocates for his colleagues, and this story — sacrificing his own airtime with a legend like Cena to spotlight the women’s division — adds another chapter to that reputation.
Xelina Opens Up About Her WWE Exit
The Rhodes story is just one thread in a revealing interview. Xelina also discussed the restrictions she felt on her promos in WWE, saying she was told not to “outshine” certain stars, and the freedom she now feels working as Xelina with no creative handcuffs. She also shared that she had wished Triple H had let her defend the Women’s US Title in TNA, AAA and STARDOM, taking the belt on a traveling workhorse run that WWE never approved.
After nearly a decade in WWE under two regimes, Xelina left the company in 2026 and has since rebranded, teasing a “new era” with her name, look and voice finally under her own control. Whatever comes next, she’ll be doing it with more minutes — and more freedom — than ever.
Also Read: Xelina Wishes Triple H Had Let Her Defend the WWE Women’s US Title Across TNA, AAA and STARDOM | WWE SmackDown Viewership Back Above 1.3 Million for October 9 Episode
Source: Fightful — read the full story there.
