Cody Rhodes Discusses Possible Heel Turn and Creative Pressure of Staying Babyface – Two-time Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes says he is open to the idea of turning heel in the future, even though he has remained a babyface since returning at WrestleMania 38. Speaking on his podcast What Do You Wanna Talk About? alongside Rey Mysterio, Rhodes reflected on the creative challenges that come with portraying a virtuous character in modern WWE.
“I feel right now, I like the challenge of being a babyface, because it seems almost impossible some nights. Because it’s easier to be cooler. I really admire Logan Paul‘s situation. He could fall flat on his face, and it’s no big deal, nothing lost. He can be mad at that crowd. I think sometimes there’s some elements of being a heel that are a lot of fun, whereas as a babyface, especially a white-meat style or more how Cena would put it, ‘virtuous’ where you’re really trying to make the right choices. That’s not always the most appealing thing by modern entertainment standards,” Rhodes said.
Rhodes explained that WWE’s family-oriented audience still creates a strong space for a heroic character, even as fan preferences evolve. He pointed out that his approach differs from peers like LA Knight and Jey Uso, who connect with audiences in different ways. At the same time, he admitted the creative freedom that comes with being a villain is appealing.
“I think if we ever transition or if a heel (turn) was to come back up, that might be something I could even need in my life and don’t realize it, just from the sheer, ‘Let’s go out there and have some fun.’ I feel like there’s a lot of pressure and a challenge on the babyface spot. Whereas sometimes, in my experience at least, being a heel is a little bit, ‘Let’s just go have some fun. Nothing needs to happen until we’re ready for it to happen, we’ll get it when we get it.’ You can dictate that pace a little bit more too,” Rhodes added.
Rhodes is currently navigating a new phase in his career after losing the Undisputed WWE Championship to Drew McIntyre in a Three Stages of Hell match in January 2026. That defeat reshaped the title picture, with the next challenger set to face McIntyre for the championship at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas.
While Rhodes remains firmly positioned as one of WWE’s top babyfaces, his comments show he is not ruling out a change in direction. For now, he continues to embrace the challenge of the role, even as he acknowledges the creative appeal and reduced pressure that often come with being a heel.
Cody Rhodes Discusses Possible Heel Turn and Creative Pressure of Staying Babyface
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