Cody Rhodes has spoken directly about the growing heel turn discussion that picked up after Stephanie McMahon’s return to WWE RAW last month. During the build to WrestleMania, many fans wondered whether the segment at Madison Square Garden was meant to signal a character shift.
Rhodes made it clear that he is not turning heel right now, stressing that timing and purpose matter more than reacting to crowd noise. This topic has become a major talking point, and the Cody Rhodes heel turn debate continues to follow him into every appearance.
Speaking on his What Do You Want to Talk About podcast from WWE Warehouse, Rhodes revisited the MSG moment with his guests, who were in the arena that night. He confirmed that Stephanie’s slap landed harder than viewers may have realized. He said: “I’m not gonna be honest, man. I felt it in my feet.”
Rhodes added that the second he heard her entrance music inside Madison Square Garden, he knew the tone of the night had changed. As he put it: “Heard the music play and went, okay, now it’s her town.”
The bigger question, however, was whether Stephanie’s appearance hinted at a heel turn. Rhodes addressed that directly. He said he is open to turning heel one day, but emphasized that it is not the current direction. He explained that staying true to himself sometimes means accepting reactions he may not prefer.
He stated: “There’s this whole discussion on, like, when is he gonna turn heel. I’m open to it, gosh, but when that’s the plan, that’s the plan. Right now I get to be me, and me makes the decisions I think are the appropriate decisions. Appropriate sometimes gets you booed. But I’d rather be that in the end.”
Rhodes also referenced John Cena as an example of staying committed to a character even when reactions are mixed. He called Cena the most virtuous babyface of all time, noting how consistency can define a career. The conversation about Cody Rhodes and his possible heel turn may continue, but for now, Rhodes is focused on being himself and letting the story unfold naturally.
Cody Rhodes Addresses Heel Turn Talk
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