Cody Rhodes Isn’t Going to Heel Turn: Here’s Why

The masters behind WWE like to get us talking. Over the last few weeks, there have been a few teases that Cody Rhodes might be about to turn to the dark side, and with The Rock stating that he should go in that direction, a lot of fans are starting to wonder.

Could Cody Rhodes really be the next big WWE villain? In our opinion, probably not. There’s no doubt that betting on anything specific in the WWE is tricky, especially given its tendency to give us sudden U-turns. But we have a good reason for thinking that.

The Draw of Cody Rhodes

Ever since its entrance into the wrestling scene in 2006, Rhodes has been captivating fans with his charisma, work ethic, and relatable persona. A lot of fans see themselves in him, and with that in mind, he’s become a sort of ‘every-man’ – whereby people see him as more of a personal friend, than a WWE athlete. 

The journey of Cody Rhodes is a positive one. Whether it was his early days fighting for recognition, his departure and subsequent reinvention, or his emotional return to the fighting arena, Rhodes has always told a story that fans connect with. And the big dogs at the top of the WWE ladder know this. Rhodes’ popularity has led to a huge number of merchandise sales, as well as live event attendance and fan engagement, and those are all very strong reasons not to turn him. 

The Risk of the Heel Turn

The risk of turning heel, of course, is that it can easily fracture the strong emotional bond a fighter builds within the WWE universe. Take the beloved fighter Bayley, for instance, who was once one of the ‘babyfaces’ in the WWE. Her persona as the lovable underdog earned her a pretty devoted fanbase, especially among younger viewers, but when she turned heel in 2019, everything started to change. 

While some fans appreciated the reinvention – and still back it – others felt cheated by the sudden shift, and it took her time to rebuild that connection in her new role. If Cody Rhodes were to turn, the same thing might happen. Sure, there’ll be some short-term shock value that will bring in new viewers, but it could also damage the long-term emotional investment that fans have put into his journey so far. 

The Future for Cody Rhodes

Heel turns can be a lot of fun, and with some WWE athletes, they make sense. Roman Reigns, for example, was the perfect candidate for the dark side, simply because the audience wasn’t behind him in the first place. The WWE had tried to position him as a lovable rogue, but it wasn’t until he fully embraced the heel turn in 2020 that everything really clicked. His character gained depth, his promos improved, and the crowd became more invested in his story – even if they were rooting against him. But Cody Rhodes is in a different position. Not only is he benefitting the WWE franchise through merchandise sales and tickets, but the fans want to cheer for him – and taking away what the fans want is never a good idea. With this in mind, we’re not going to bet on a Cody Rhodes heel turn any time soon.