Triple H and WWE's Growing Cody Rhodes Problem
The biggest question among WWE fans for years was who would eventually replace Roman Reigns as the face of the franchise.
Once Triple H came into power at the company in 2022, it quickly became apparent that Cody Rhodes was the rightful heir to the throne.
Despite taking longer than originally expected, Rhodes' grand coronation upon beating Reigns and ending his historic four-year run as undisputed WWE universal champion at WrestleMania 40 couldn't have been better executed. A star was born, and a new era was officially underway.
However, one of WWE's biggest weakness, regardless of the regime, has always been in the follow-up.
Rhodes was largely booked to have a great championship reign over the next year and remained beloved by the audience, only to have most of that goodwill ruined during his horribly botched feud with John Cena going into WrestleMania 41.
He has since regained the gold but hasn't been the same, resulting in a recurring problem WWE seems to be struggling to both address and rectify.
The American Nightmare can still be salvaged as WWE's premier babyface, but it's imperative action is taken before it's too late.
An Alarming Lack of Credible, Compelling Challengers
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Rhodes has only been undisputed WWE champion for just over three months since getting the belt back from John Cena at SummerSlam and already his reign has grown stale.
Drew McIntyre was the perfect first challenger for Rhodes coming out of SummerSlam given their history as partners and how their careers have paralleled each other, but the underwhelming ending to their outing at Wrestlepalooza didn't leave fans anxiously anticipating a rematch.
Despite that, McIntyre and Rhodes resumed their rivalry heading into the Nov. 1 installment of Saturday Night's Main Event, where the champion again emerged victorious in clean fashion.
The abysmal booking of the Scot has killed his credibility, and worse yet, there's no one else waiting in the wings for the next shot.
SmackDown's main event scene is depleted to the point where not a single Superstar stands out as being a remotely interesting option. Rhodes works exceptionally well as the fighting babyface champion, but without a worthy foil, his title run is doomed to fall flat.
It's more of an issue with the blue brand on the whole than it is Rhodes himself, but it will ultimately reflect poorly on The American Nightmare and hurt his standing with the audience when he isn't involved in anything considered compelling.
The Invincible Booking Will Continue to Do Damage
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The biggest mistake WWE made with John Cena and Roman Reigns during their respective rises to the top was overpushing them at the expense of everyone else on the roster.
Cena and Reigns were the right people at the right time, but their booking did them no favors and hardly endeared them to the fans. They won far more than they should have, especially in situations where they should have lost or at least been made to look more vulnerable.
Rhodes is slowly but surely entering that same territory.
It's a miracle he's managed to keep the fans on his side since returning to WWE over three-and-a-half years ago, but by being portrayed as invincible, he's becomes less relatable, instead embodying everything the common viewer resents about whoever WWE positions as the face of their franchise.
Rhodes needs to drop the championship every so often to ensure he doesn't get stagnant. He's always been better while in chase mode, and although he has excelled during his two title reigns, he could benefit from falling short in certain matchups so he has something to avenge or fight for.
It's Still Too Soon for a Heel Turn
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Rhodes has proved in the past he has it in him to be an incredible heel, though it's been over seven years since he was last in that role.
He was a face for his entire tenure in All Elite Wrestling and has had no reason to turn for as long as he's been back in WWE. That hasn't stopped fans from fantasy-booking his eventual heel run, however.
Not only has Rhodes admitted to it being an inevitability, he's even embraced the idea, saying he may have only a year or two left as a babyface. In reality, WWE should only turn him when it's absolutely necessary, and there's no need for it to be anytime soon based on recent crowd reactions.
That day will come, and when it does, it will be a big deal and hopefully live up to expectations. Until then, though, WWE should be mindful that Rhodes will need a replacement in that role and to start looking toward the future now.
CM Punk and Jey Uso are both beloved at the moment, but neither will be the guy in WWE five years from now. Seth Rollins is also closer to the end of his career than the beginning, and Roman Reigns is part-time at best.
It would be premature for the promotion to ponder the possibility of a Rhodes heel turn when there's no one ready to immediately move into his spot.
The American Nightmare broke out far later than most and therefore won't have the same longevity on top that others did before him, but he should make the most of this push while he has it.
The heel turn can wait, but there are ways Triple H can keep Rhodes hot in the meantime.
Further Fleshing Out the Rhodes Character
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The longer Rhodes reigns as undisputed WWE champion without facing any real obstacles, the greater the risk of the fans turning on him sooner.
He was arguably the most must-see character in the company between WrestleMania 38 and WrestleMania 40. The moment he returned from his six-year hiatus, he established his "story" of wanting to win the world title and finish what his father started.
That led to a two-year expedition filled with twists and turns that culminated in one of WWE's most monumental moments when he dethroned the dominant Roman Reigns.
He's been involved in some strong storylines since then with the likes of Kevin Owens and AJ Styles, but a majority of his rivalries have blended together due to lack of depth. He'll win in the end without facing actual adversity.
By further fleshing out his character and adding a few new layers, he'll extend his time on top. Losing the Undisputed WWE Championship on the sooner side would be a significant step in the right direction, along with working with opponents who can bring the best out of him both in the ring and on the mic.
Straying away from repetitive promos and predictable betrayals can prevent Rhodes from losing his "cool" factor in addition to not being at the forefront at all times.
Using Rhodes to Elevate New Talent
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At a time when WWE's main event scene mostly consists of wrestlers in their early-to-mid 40s, fresh faces are needed now more than ever.
Between Dominik Mysterio, Bron Breakker, Jacob Fatu and all of the talent in NXT, there's no shortage of youth across the card, but to wait any longer to elevate some of these names would be a waste. WWE should capitalize on their potential while they're still in their prime.
A common theme throughout Rhodes' run as a headliner is that he's largely been working with names that are already established. Beating Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, John Cena and Randy Orton has helped him tremendously, but it's time for him to rub shoulders with the talent of tomorrow without necessarily passing the torch just yet.
Fatu is currently sidelined, but once he's cleared to compete, he should be first in line to challenge Rhodes. Even in defeat, Fatu can be made to look like a star and gain credibility by taking him to the limit with the gold up for grabs.
Aleister Black has been around for a lot longer but isn't the main eventer Rhodes is in WWE. That rivalry would also be a refreshing change of pace compared to The American Nightmare running it back with Drew McIntyre for a third time.
WWE wanting to book high-profile matches for Rhodes with the likes of Randy Orton and CM Punk is understandable, but fans are ready for the undisputed WWE champion—and the rest of the main event scene for that matter—to start putting over the next crop of competitors without being subjected to the same stars and stories.
Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, WrestleRant, and subscribe to his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related content.
