Wrestling veteran Dutch Mantell has voiced concerns over the booking of Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, specifically cautioning against a potential heel turn. Mantell’s advice comes after a segment on the latest Monday Night RAW where the live audience’s reaction to Rhodes was perceived as less enthusiastic than their response to a mention of Roman Reigns.
Speaking on his Story Time with Dutch Mantell podcast, the former manager speculated that WWE creative might have plans for Rhodes to become a villain. “I think they’ve got plans for Cody [Rhodes] to turn bad guy, which might make sense,” Mantell stated.
However, he strongly advised against making a decision based on a single crowd reaction. “But again, I think they’re going to have to think about all the merchandise that he sells to kids, and that’s his market… I would be very careful with doing anything with Cody Rhodes at this point. I mean, don’t have a knee-jerk reaction just off that because that could be a bad move and maybe the wrong move,” he added.
Mantell’s recent warning taps into a conversation that has been building for months, particularly in the lead-up to Rhodes recapturing the title from John Cena at SummerSlam. Throughout July 2025, speculation intensified that Rhodes was heading for a darker persona, fueled by hints like wearing a Rolex gifted by The Rock, who had previously advocated for Rhodes to embrace a heel role.
Rhodes himself addressed the rumors, stating in a July 30 appearance on ESPN’s First Take that while a heel turn is “probably really likely” in his future, it was “not happening anytime soon.”
The speculation peaked just before SummerSlam, where many anticipated a “double turn” during his match with John Cena. This theory gained traction after Cena delivered a promo on SmackDown seemingly returning to his classic babyface character, which some saw as an opening for Rhodes to establish himself as the company’s new top heel.
Despite the widespread theories, a report from WrestleVotes on August 7 clarified that WWE had “no current plans” to turn the champion. The report described the recent on-screen hints as “strategic misdirection” designed to engage a more hardcore segment of the audience, confirming that WWE and TKO Group Holdings remain committed to Rhodes as their premier babyface.