Cody Rhodes made a strong declaration on SmackDown when he stated his intention to win the upcoming Royal Rumble, aiming for his third victory in the match. Despite receiving initial cheers, the crowd quickly turned hostile, booing Rhodes and chanting “no” as they rejected his bold claim. This negative response followed Rhodes’ recent loss of the Undisputed WWE Championship to Drew McIntyre.
The Royal Rumble event is approaching, and many WWE stars, including Rhodes, are preparing to compete. A familiar competitor in the Rumble match, Rhodes has claimed victory twice in consecutive years, but the fans seem divided about his chances of winning again this year.
Rhodes’ Past Ambition: Aspiring to Become U.S. President
Beyond wrestling, Cody Rhodes has harbored ambitious goals from a young age. In an interview on the podcast Grave Conversations, Rhodes revealed that he once dreamed of becoming the President of the United States. As a child, he practiced delivering presidential speeches in front of a mirror until he was 18 years old.
“I grew up wanting to be two things. One was a pro wrestler, and the other was, please, if anyone laughs in this room, I’m not going to do anything because I’m in a prone position already, but I wanted to be the president of the United States. And part of my weird presidential speech that I used to give myself in the mirror, and this was something I did as a kid… That is a legit terrifying secret that I’ve just shared with you about the speech that I gave up until about I was 18 in my mirror,” Rhodes said.
This glimpse into Rhodes’ personal ambitions suggests a multidimensional personality beyond his in-ring persona, leaving fans curious to see if he will pursue leadership roles outside of wrestling in the future.
Fan Reaction and Potential Impact on Rhodes’ Royal Rumble Bid
The vocal backlash Rhodes received after his Royal Rumble declaration highlights tension between the wrestler’s confidence and the audience’s expectations. While Rhodes’ past accomplishments in WWE position him as a strong contender, the boos signal resistance from the crowd that could influence his trajectory in the tournament.
As the Royal Rumble event nears, how Rhodes responds to this fan disapproval will likely affect his standing with WWE viewers and his overall storyline. Whether he can overcome the negative reception and secure a third Royal Rumble victory remains to be seen.
Cody Rhodes says he's going to win the Royal Rumble for a 3rd time.
The crowd boos and chants "NO! NO! NO!"#RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/ztJhKg3mGz
— The Movement – Pro Wrestling (@TheMovementXx) January 30, 2026
