Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes: Who Is the Better WWE Star in 2024?

WrestleMania 40 is building to one of the most important clashes in WWE history: The rematch between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes.

It's obvious that they are the two stars in sports entertainment.

Not since the days of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Rock has WWE seen two bigger names clashing for the top prize in the business.

While the company has a wealth of rising stars behind Reigns and Rhodes who are eager to take their spots, none are going to match them on the Road to WrestleMania.

While Reigns won their first match and most expect Rhodes to get revenge in their second, the bigger question is: Who is truly WWE's top star?

In-Ring Talent

In WWE, in-ring ability is often secondary to other factors, but that doesn't mean a star cannot shine without the necessary tools. A true top Superstar must be able to deliver regularly.

Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns have consistently competed at a main event level. There is no doubt they will step up to compete with anyone.

A match against The Head of the Table is always a step up and has established multiple new stars including Jey Uso, LA Knight and Sami Zayn.

The American Nightmare has delivered quality matches with a variety of opponents since his return. His work with Seth Rollins and Brock Lesnar has carried WWE's premium live events over the past two years.

Neither man is going to blow fans away with their athleticism like Ricochet, technical prowess like Chad Gable or physicality like Gunther, but they are all-around performers who know what is needed to deliver complete matches.

Of the two, Rhodes has been competing at a higher level recently and far more consistently, but it's closer than many might be willing to admit.

Advantage: Rhodes

Mic Skills

Great stars deliver great promos, and both Reigns and Rhodes have done that of late. They know what matters most: making the audience feel.

The American Nightmare delivers passionate promos, driven by his sincere belief in what he says. He is the rare talent who comes off more comfortable as a babyface than as a heel.

The Tribal Chief found his voice with his heel turn, and he has not looked back. His confident delivery can break his opponents time and again. He is clearly most comfortable in a villainous role.

Both struggled in the past before finding where they are most natural. Hopefully, when the eventual character change comes, the two will maintain their confidence.

Between the two, Reigns has the current edge due to the nuance of his performance. His subtle acting is rare in professional wrestling and has made The Bloodline such an attraction over the past three years.

Advantage: Reigns

Charisma

No one gets to the top of the card without charisma, but those who stay there can channel it through crowd reactions.

Rhodes gets bigger crowd reactions than anyone in professional wrestling at the moment. His entrance may have a built-in crowd pop, but fans have not tired of it two years in.

It is harder to get a full crowd against you in WWE today, but Reigns has sold entire arenas on varied opponents during his heel run. He constantly draws reactions to his appearances and will lean in even to positive reception.

Of the two, there is no denying the charisma of Rhodes at this moment. Fans are so invested in his story that WWE was forced to pivot on its plans for WrestleMania based on the crowd reaction.

The American Nightmare pushed The Rock to turn heel, which gives him a pronounced lead over Reigns in terms of charisma in 2024.

Advantage: Rhodes

Versatility

Staying relevant for a few months is valuable, but top Superstars must be able to evolve. WWE requires constant versatility in the talent that can be relied upon week after week.

Reigns and Rhodes started out trying characters that simply were not working. It took a while for them to find their footing, and neither The Big Dog nor Stardust ever truly landed.

While their current characters are great, their versatility is questionable. However, they have never been afraid to experiment.

As The Tribal Chief, Reigns seems more readily available to adapt to his opponent. Fans would cheer him without him needing to change much when challenging a top face.

While Rhodes had done the riskier character work, he may have trouble adapting as easily if the fans were to lose interest.

Advantage: Reigns

Reliability

Most top stars are expected to appear constantly in WWE. Following the example of Brock Lesnar before him, Reigns has set a new standard in limited but heavily hyped appearances.

However, WWE still has to prefer to have a star available whenever needed. Rhodes has the clear advantage.

He in on the road with the roster every week. He is a workhorse who never wants to rest. He wouldn't even pull out of a Hell in a Cell match with Seth Rollins when he tore his pectoral muscle.

Reigns is taking care of his family and his personal health, and he will always be a top guy when he is around.

The American Nightmare simply has the advantage that he is always around.

Advantage: Rhodes

Marketability

For a time in WWE, The Bloodline was the most marketable angle in professional wrestling. However, fans are starting to lose interest.

This gave Rhodes a perfect opportunity to slip in and become the hottest star in the business.

He was the top-selling Superstar on WWE Shop in 2023 as reported by Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics, just ahead of The Tribal Chief. He has multiple shirts that are selling big for WWE, though the competition with Reigns remains fierce.

In truth, this is about as close as the race gets, but Rhodes has done as well as Reigns without holding the world title, which indicates he can reach higher.

This will be an interesting competition to watch for years to come.

Advantage: Rhodes

Mainstream Appeal

Success in professional wrestling does not always preclude mainstream popularity.

While The Rock and John Cena have broken out beyond WWE, Hulk Hogan and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin found limited success beyond the ring.

With how long WWE has been around, few names are known on the current roster beyond the WWE Universe. Some do find additional success through acting, though.

Between Reigns and Rhodes, The Tribal Chief has a distinct advantage both in acting ability and presentation.

He looks like a movie star. He has The Rock pushing him slowly toward stardom alongside WWE.

Everything is leaning toward Reigns becoming the next breakout mainstream WWE star.

Rhodes is a professional wrestling lifer like the rest of his family, and he has said many times that is his goal. He isn't looking for the mainstream success Reigns will seek before long.

Advantage: Reigns

Intangibles

Sometimes, you simply cannot quantify what makes a Superstar great. They just are. This is why WWE stuck with Cena, even through the rough early years when fans rejected him.

Reigns got similar treatment. He was pushed before he was ready because the company knew he had that intangible quality that could make him the face of WWE.

He has backed that up and was deservedly passed the torch by The Champ himself. The Rock also seems to crave the chance to pass his torch onto The Tribal Chief.

Rhodes has his own intangibles. He is a guy fans want to root for, even if he could be seen as a nepotistic hire. But his earnest desire to be great is infectious and has made him a top guy since the moment he returned to WWE.

It's just impossible to match Reigns' aura in 2024, though. No one can live up to his presence and star power at the moment.

Advantage: Reigns

Verdict

Rhodes should win the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 40. He probably should have won it a year ago.

However, he cannot escape the looming shadow of Reigns. The American Nightmare can definitively take down The Tribal Chief, but he won't find the same level of consistency as Reigns in 2024 and beyond.

The face of this generation of WWE is still The Head of the Table. The company does not always need its top champion to be that.

In fact, Reigns is such a big star now that he does not need to hold a title. He elevates the product by appearing.

Rhodes is great, and he will be a phenomenal champion. But he will remain the No. 2 guy in WWE as long as Reigns continues to appear.

Advantage: Reigns