Cody Rhodes‘ standing within WWE has sharply declined in recent weeks, marked by losing the Undisputed WWE Championship and facing defeat at the men’s Royal Rumble match in Saudi Arabia in early 2026. As his popularity wanes, WWE appears to be distancing itself from Rhodes, signaling a potential end to his role as the company’s leading figure.
Triple H, WWE’s Chief Content Officer, who once declared Rhodes the face of the company at WrestleMania 40, now seems to be shifting focus away from the American Nightmare. Several developments point to WWE quietly giving up on Cody Rhodes as a top star.
Early Removal of the WWE Championship Before WrestleMania 42
The most glaring indication that WWE is backing off from Rhodes is the decision to strip him of the WWE Championship just months before WrestleMania 42. Fans did not anticipate a title change during a recent SmackDown episode, especially since Rhodes had defeated Drew McIntyre twice prior, including what was expected to be their final showdown with Rhodes emerging victorious again.
Cody Rhodes was widely expected to headline WrestleMania 42 against Roman Reigns as the reigning champion. However, WWE chose to have him lose the title three months ahead of the event, implying a lack of confidence in Rhodes carrying the main event. Reports suggested that the choice to remove the title from Rhodes was made mere hours before the SmackDown match, stemming from audience fatigue with Cody’s reign and a desire by creative to reestablish Drew McIntyre as champion.
Exclusion from WrestleMania 42 Night Two Headliner Spot
Another sign of WWE’s retreat from Rhodes is his apparent absence from the main event on Night 2 of WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas. After headlining WrestleMania events for the past three years, Rhodes is being overlooked this time, especially now that he no longer holds a title and has suffered a loss at the men’s Royal Rumble.
With CM Punk and Roman Reigns likely to dominate the Night 2 main event, Rhodes’ prospects for a marquee WrestleMania spot have diminished. His only realistic chance now is winning the men’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, potentially earning a place in the Night 1 main event. Yet, this scenario seems unlikely since Rhodes and Drew McIntyre have already faced off three times over the last six months, making another headline match between them doubtful. Should they clash again, it might be relegated to the opening bout of WrestleMania 42 rather than a closing spotlight match.
WWE’s Resistance to Turning Cody Rhodes Heel
Since his WWE return four years ago, Rhodes has consistently played the babyface character, with repeated discussions about turning him heel failing to materialize. There were rumors linked to the mystery of who attacked Jacob Fatu, with speculation that Rhodes might be revealed as the assailant to trigger a heel turn.
However, WWE has not disclosed the attacker’s identity, and it appears unlikely Rhodes will assume that role. This hesitation to reposition Rhodes as a villain suggests WWE is reluctant to invest further creative energy into him. Failing to win the upcoming Elimination Chamber match could spell a difficult year ahead for Rhodes, further confirming WWE’s downshift in pushing his career forward.
Ultimately, the next few months leading up to WrestleMania 42 will clarify if WWE intends to push Cody Rhodes back into the spotlight or if they are moving on from the American Nightmare era altogether.
