Cody Rhodes is well aware that his current run as one of wrestling’s most beloved babyfaces may not last forever, and he’s already contemplating what comes next.
During a recent interview with Kay Adams, Rhodes opened up about his public perception, the longevity of being the “nice guy,” and how a potential character shift might unfold in today’s wrestling climate.
“I don’t ever get tired of it, because you get to have all of this in these moments,” Rhodes said about being a fan-favorite. “But I do think we’re probably at the tail end of it, though, because there’s only so much someone can like you.”
Rhodes acknowledged the natural evolution of characters in wrestling, hinting that a turn could be inevitable — but only under the right circumstances.
“I would love to do it till the end of my career, but there’s only so much. It’s like, ‘All right, we cheer for them.’ At a certain point, they want to see somebody else. I get that. That’s where you have to change as a character.”
He believes there’s a limited timeframe for this kind of role to remain effective:
“I think you have a good, solid year — maybe even three years,” he explained. “Because again, I am not changing until I’m changed. If that makes any sense.”
Rhodes also described what a true heel turn would look like in the modern era, and it’s not just about turning up the attitude:
“You’ll know because X and Instagram will hate it. Because today heels are like, ‘Oh, that’s a cool heel.’ We’re loving John Cena, no. If you’re burying it and hate it and talking about how you don’t want it on your TV, that’s what an actual bad guy is.”
Interestingly, Rhodes also revealed that The Rock has already planted seeds for such a transition behind the scenes.
“If The Rock had it his way, I would have been changed already. So I think he sees something that maybe I don’t see, and that’s a very smart individual. So maybe I follow his lead. Maybe not.”
Despite their heated on-screen feud earlier this year, Rhodes had high praise for The Final Boss’s career and generosity:
“He’s doing… got a good series of A24 movies coming out. As a wrestler growing up in the business, I’m just excited those opportunities are there for him. And I think it’s no secret he’s been very helpful, kind of procuring some opportunities for me as well — that I never dreamed of in a million years. So I’m all for The Rock.”
As Cody’s reign at the top continues, fans may want to savor the “American Nightmare” in his current form, because as he hinted, change may be closer than anyone expects.
Cody Rhodes, are you tired of being the good guy?@CodyRhodes @Fanatics pic.twitter.com/5A6xFnmrzb
— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) June 24, 2025
Stay tuned to PWMania.com for more updates on Cody Rhodes, The Rock, and all things WWE.
