In the face of persistent fan demand for a character change, Cody Rhodes has offered a detailed defense of his commitment to being a top babyface in WWE. During a recent appearance on the Bill Simmons podcast, Rhodes addressed the ongoing speculation about a potential heel turn, arguing that the rewards of being a truly beloved “good guy” far outweigh the creative freedoms of being a villain.
While acknowledging the common sentiment among wrestlers that playing a heel is more fun, Rhodes explained the practical reasons for that preference.
“Everyone’s going to tell you ‘bad guy,’ but I think that’s because they haven’t experienced what ‘good guy’ can really be,” Rhodes said. “Bad guy is fun because you can fall on your face and make a spot out of it. Bad guy is fun—you can stumble on your words in a promo and make a moment out of it. Bad guy is fun because, traditionally, a bad guy leads the match.”
However, for Rhodes, the genuine connection with the audience is the ultimate prize. He believes that when fans are emotionally invested, it creates a more profound experience that he is unwilling to abandon.
“But a good guy—or good girl—that they’re actually invested in? That they came for, they’re wearing your shirt, they’ve got signs? That’s something different,” he explained. “There’s always this argument, ‘Oh, Cody, turn heel. Will he turn?’ I don’t think so. They can boo all they want. If certain people decide, ‘Yeah, Cody’s a heel to me,’ okay. But I don’t think I’d ever turn, ’cause it’s just too much of a connection with those who were on board with me.”
The American Nightmare also stated that succeeding as a babyface in the modern era is a significant challenge. He pointed to a cultural shift where audiences began to favor edgy anti-heroes, a trend amplified by television and social media, making it difficult for traditional good guys to compete.
“I think it’s harder to be a good guy. That’s the thing. It’s harder. Harder to pull it off,” Rhodes stated. “For a while, they were extinct. They just wanted anti-heroes—edgy TV… Every heel out there has the best social media, the best one-liners that leave most babyfaces like, ‘D** in hand, oh what do I do?’”*
He highlighted Jey Uso as one of the few current examples of a truly popular babyface, noting the difficulty in both establishing and maintaining that connection, especially since babyfaces often absorb a great deal of punishment on television. Instead of viewing mixed or negative reactions as a signal to change, Rhodes sees it as a competitive challenge.
“When they start booing a good guy, people think it’s time for a turn. No, no. To me, that’s just an away game,” Rhodes said. “I always know, too. I know when it’s an away game. ‘Hey, we’re going into their arena tonight—it’s an away game.’”
Rhodes’ comments come at a time of heightened speculation, fueled by his more aggressive actions in his feud with John Cena. Recent on-screen developments, such as Rhodes coercing a weakened Cena to sign their match contract and wearing a Rolex once owned by his father, have been interpreted as hints of a darker persona. Despite these teases, multiple reports confirm WWE has no immediate plans for a heel turn, particularly with the emotionally charged Rhodes vs. Cena Street Fight set to headline SummerSlam. The company is reportedly focused on maximizing the legacy of Cena’s retirement tour rather than executing a risky character shift for Rhodes.