For those waiting for Cody Rhodes to break bad and embrace his villainous side, don’t hold your breath. The “American Nightmare” is fully committed to being the hero of the story, and he has no intention of changing course anytime soon. On Wednesday, Rhodes stopped by Live with Kelly & Mark to promote WWE‘s road to WrestleMania 42, where he opened up about his current role in the company and why he loves being a babyface.
Rhodes: “Babyfaces Came Back To Life”
“For a long time, there were a lot of anti-heroes,” Rhodes explained to the hosts. “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.” He pointed to the success of his peers as proof of this shift. “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 Numbers Keep Rhodes A Hero
Rhodes’ commitment to the good side isn’t just a personal preference; it’s a business decision. Despite occasional speculation about a heel turn, Dave Meltzer reported last month that such a move is highly unlikely. According to the report, Rhodes’ merchandise numbers are incredibly strong—described as “nothing to be tinkered with”—and a turn would only be considered if absolutely necessary. With business booming, WWE has no incentive to fix what isn’t broken.
While his character remains consistent, his path to WrestleMania 42 is anything but certain. After dropping the WWE Championship to Drew McIntyre earlier this year, Rhodes must now fight his way back to the top. His journey continues this Friday on SmackDown, where he will compete in a high-stakes Triple Threat qualifying match against Sami Zayn and Jacob Fatu. The winner will earn a spot in the Elimination Chamber match, the final hurdle before a potential title shot in Las Vegas.
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