Xelina, the performer wrestling fans know as Zelina Vega from her time in WWE, has revealed that Cody Rhodes helped secure additional time for her Women’s United States Championship match against Giulia on an August 2025 episode of SmackDown. Xelina shared the story during an extensive interview with D.S. Shin of Ring The Belle, calling the match one of her favorites.
According to Xelina, Rhodes worked behind the scenes to save approximately ten minutes for her bout with Giulia, ensuring the match had the room it needed to play out on the broadcast. She did not go into further detail about the circumstances that led to the time being in jeopardy, but she made clear that Rhodes’ involvement directly benefited the outcome of the segment and left her with a positive memory of the night.
The revelation adds a new layer of context to the August 2025 SmackDown broadcast, which saw Xelina and Giulia compete for the Women’s United States Championship. Xelina’s comments suggest that match times on WWE’s flagship shows can shift due to the involvement of veteran talent and producers working to protect key segments, with Rhodes apparently playing that role on this particular night.
Cody Rhodes’ New WWE Contract
The report on Xelina’s comments arrived the same day as fresh details emerged regarding Cody Rhodes’ standing with WWE. Rhodes had previously confirmed that he signed a new contract with the company but did not share specifics at the time. A New York Post article has since reported additional details on the length of that deal, following up on Rhodes’ earlier acknowledgment of a new agreement.
The timing of both stories places renewed attention on Rhodes’ current role within WWE, both as one of the company’s top in-ring stars and, according to Xelina’s account, as someone with influence over how matches and segments are structured behind the scenes. While the specifics of his new contract terms were not detailed beyond confirmation of its length being reported, the combination of his on-screen standing and backstage involvement underscores his broader position within the promotion.
Neither Xelina nor Giulia has offered further public comment beyond what was shared in the Ring The Belle interview, and WWE has not issued its own statement addressing the specifics of how match times were determined for that August 2025 SmackDown broadcast.
