5 Reasons why Seth Rollins is currently more believable as a face than Cody Rhodes
Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins have been at odds since The American Nightmare returned to WWE in 2022. The stars have had three matches, all of which Rhodes won. Rollins eventually turned face and even teamed with his one-time foe…
Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins have been at odds since The American Nightmare returned to WWE in 2022. The stars have had three matches, all of which Rhodes won.
Rollins eventually turned face and even teamed with his one-time foe at WrestleMania 40 last year. That event also set both performers on different paths for the rest of 2024.
Rhodes became WWE’s top star and Undisputed Champion. The Architect lost twice at The Showcase of the Immortals. They have had varying levels of success since parting ways, but Seth Rollins is currently more believable as a face for the next five reasons.
#5. WWE’s history of bubble gum top faces
WWE and Vince McMahon became mainstream institutions when Hulk Hogan emerged as an All-American hero. He always won, defended America, and was the company’s biggest star for a decade.
John Cena followed suit, so much so that some fans started to tire of the superhuman-face character. Rhodes fits that mold in WWE’s current landscape and roster.
Roman Reigns’ comments about being “a politician” also speak to that persona as someone always trying to please the masses. Seth Rollins doesn’t follow that playbook or try to be a superhero out of a comic book.
#4. Seth Rollins has a more exciting move set
A strange fact about wrestling and who portrays heroes and villains is the set of moves each star uses. Monster heels are often bigger and more physically dominant, so they use tosses, throws, and strikes that are more effective due to their size.
Faces can adopt many personas, but high-flyers are usually best suited for heroic characters. Rollins is one of the best at blending high-risk moves with strikes and other holds.
Rhodes does the same to a degree but is more comfortable on the mat. The Architect has a Frog Splash, a Phoenix Splash, and other moves off the top rope. He’s more exciting because many wrestlers don’t overuse those moves.
#3. Seth Rollins’ history of being a heel in WWE
The WWE Universe has witnessed Seth Rollins’ career ups and downs. He’s been part of a group, his own man as a face, and a disillusioned self-professed savior.
Through all of those changes, he’s grown emotionally and psychologically. His actions and reactions, especially lately, are reasonable and understandable due to his complicated history with Rhodes and Roman Reigns.
Since his WWE return, fans have only seen the smiling, hand-shaking Rhodes. He’s essentially the same person but ramps it up when pushed. Despite that, Rollins has baggage. It’s why he always says he’s a Visionary, a Revolutionary, and an Architect. People can change and grow.
#2. He defends WWE against anyone, including returning stars who bashed it
One huge talking point in Seth Rollins’ current feud with CM Punk is how Punk left WWE a decade ago. He criticized the company after he walked out because he had issues with how things were handled.
Punk is entitled to his opinion, but he can’t be angry when someone expresses theirs. Rollins did that every time Punk or another wrestler trashed his home. He vehemently defended the company and still does to this day.
He even blasted Will Ospreay a few years ago and does the same when AEW stars take shots at WWE each week. Rhodes defends the company but is more of a “toe the company line” type of star like Hogan and Cena.
#1. Today’s game is based more on realism, and fans are smarter
Today’s product is much more different from what it was when things started in the 1980s. Fans had clear heroes and villains to root for and against. WWE often told the audience who to cheer and boo, and for the most part, the company got what it wanted.
Fans smartened up through the Attitude and Ruthless Aggression Eras. Cena’s constant conquering of any and every foe, including entire groups, was polarizing. The internet and social media also peeled back the industry’s veil.
WWE can still try to dictate who is pushed, cheered, and booed. Today’s fans, however, can choose to follow the narrative WWE wants or cheer for the heels. Some stars, like Kevin Owens, Punk, and MJF, are so great at their jobs that it’s hard to root against them.
Seth Rollins considers others’ opinions, unlike Cody Rhodes, who did with Owens. The Visionary supported Sami Zayn and the Usos but declined a WarGames spot due to his history with Reigns. Rhodes quickly cozied up to The Head of the Table despite fighting him for the last two years.