The “American Nightmare” is finding himself in a waking nightmare regarding fan reception during WWE’s international tours. Cody Rhodes has been met with a chorus of “boo-birds” time and time again as the company presents its shows overseas. This shift in sentiment was palpable when he lost the WWE Championship to Drew McIntyre, and it persisted the following week when he delivered his first promo without the title. According to WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry, fans are starting to turn on the former two-time champion, forcing him into a new, uncomfortable character dynamic.
“Cody Has Established Himself As A Tweener”
Speaking on the situation, Henry analyzed the subtle changes in Rhodes’ presentation and the audience’s response. He believes that Rhodes is no longer the pure babyface he once was, but rather someone operating in the gray area.
“Cody gets to travel the less popular road now. One of the things that I’ve said with Cody is, Cody has established himself as a tweener. He’s kind of been very heelish.”
Henry elaborated that this hostility isn’t necessarily a career killer, but rather a hurdle that Rhodes must overcome to regain his footing at the top of the card.
“This is the road he has to travel where he has to re-earn the respect and admiration of the fans because of the journey he’s taken.”
Mixed Reaction in London
Henry’s assessment proved accurate just yesterday during SmackDown in London. Inside the OVO Arena Wembley, Rhodes received a decidedly mixed reaction from the UK crowd—an audience that has fiercely embraced the new champion, Drew McIntyre. Despite the lukewarm reception, Rhodes remained defiant, announcing his entry into the 2026 Royal Rumble to chase a third victory. However, before he can focus on Riyadh, he must survive a physical test against Jacob Fatu at Saturday Night’s Main Event on January 24, a match made official after the two brawled in London, requiring security to pull them apart.
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