Cody Rhodes is fully committed to maintaining his status as the top babyface in WWE. On Wednesday, “The American Nightmare” stopped byLive with Kelly & Mark to promote the company’s march down the “Road to WrestleMania 42.” During the appearance, he discussed his role in the promotion and revealed he is having too much fun to consider a change.
Rhodes has been the top babyface in the organization since returning in 2022. While there have been times when he’s mentioned the possibility of turning heel in interviews, he made it clear to the hosts that it is a role he never wants to give up.
The Return Of The Good Guy
Rhodes reflected on the shifting dynamics of the audience, noting a departure from the “cool heel” era that dominated wrestling for years. He credited the younger demographic for embracing genuine heroes again.
“For a long time, there were a lot of anti-heroes,” Rhodes said. “Just recently it felt like WWE hit this stride with so much youth in the audience that it felt like babyfaces came back to life. Jey Uso, for example, is somebody that the kids go crazy for. Sami Zayn is out there doing it. And for me to be able to be in that spot, I don’t want to leave it. It’s so much fun.”
Merchandise Moves The Needle
From a business standpoint, a character shift seems unlikely. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer reported last month that Rhodes’ merchandise numbers remain incredibly strong. Consequently, a heel turn would only happen if WWE officials deemed it absolutely necessary for storylines, which is currently not the case.
The Road To The Chamber
While his character remains consistent, his path to “WrestleMania 42” is filled with obstacles. Plans for Rhodes have yet to be officially announced following his loss of the WWE Championship to Drew McIntyre. His route to a title shot in Las Vegas now goes through the unforgiving “Elimination Chamber.”
“SmackDown” this Friday night will feature a Chamber qualifying match involving Rhodes. He is set to face Sami Zayn and Jacob Fatu in a Triple Threat match. With only one spot available, Rhodes must overcome both a friend and a monster to keep his championship dreams alive.