Cody Rhodes recently shared a cryptic message on social media, thanking fans and hinting at significant changes ahead. This has fueled widespread speculation about a possible Cody Rhodes heel turn, particularly with the high-stakes rematch against John Cena scheduled for SummerSlam 2025 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
At this premium live event, Rhodes will have a chance to reclaim the championship he lost earlier this year at WrestleMania 41. The upcoming confrontation against Cena in a Street Fight is anticipated to have major storyline implications, increasing interest in potential shifts in character alignment.
Insights from Bully Ray on Double Turn Risks and Challenges
During a discussion on the Busted Open podcast, Bully Ray addressed the possibility of a double turn at SummerSlam, where both Cody Rhodes and John Cena would switch roles. Cena is expected to revert to a babyface character, while Rhodes seems to be signaling a heel turn. Ray emphasized how difficult executing a double turn is, requiring all elements to align perfectly for success.
“There are people out there, because of some Cody tweets that happened recently that believe Cody is going to turn heel, and John, they’re going to do the double turn. As a matter of fact, I put a very subliminal tweet out there a couple of weeks ago, just acknowledging that a double turn is not easy to do effectively. It’s everything has to fall into place perfectly for that double turn to work because you’re asking people to completely take emotional investment in two people and flip-flop them. And we’ve seen it fail before. We’ve seen it work, but I think we’ve seen it fail more often than not,” said Ray. —Bully Ray, Wrestler and Commentator
Bully Ray Reflects on Cody Rhodes’ Natural Heel Tendencies
Bully Ray further elaborated on Cody Rhodes’ suitability for a heel role, pointing out Rhodes’ history with wrestling factions like Ring of Honor and Bullet Club, where he frequently embraced antagonistic personas. According to Ray, Rhodes has always had an edge that fits the heel archetype well, making the prospect of a heel turn a natural progression in his career.
“You take so much of a risk when you try to do it. Does the WWE have the guts to try to pull it off? We shall see. Do they have the guts to turn Cody heel? We shall see. Is it the right time? I have told you since day one, I’ve been telling Cody to his face since we shared a locker room in Ring of Honor, I said, ‘Cody, you’re a heel. Cody hates everybody. Cody’s a heel.’” —Bully Ray, Wrestler and Commentator
Upcoming Street Fight at SummerSlam Adds Stakes to the Rivalry
The highly anticipated rematch between Cody Rhodes and John Cena will take place during Night Two of SummerSlam 2025 in New Jersey. This Street Fight format is expected to elevate the intensity of their rivalry and could serve as the perfect setting for potential dramatic turns in their characters. Fans and analysts alike are watching closely to see if WWE will follow through with the rumored double turn, which could have long-lasting story consequences.
Implications of the Potential Double Turn on WWE Storylines
If the double turn between Rhodes and Cena is executed successfully, it could revitalize both wrestlers’ narratives and provide fresh momentum heading into the remainder of 2025. However, as Bully Ray noted, such turns are difficult to pull off without losing audience engagement, making this a critical moment for WWE creative decisions. The outcome at SummerSlam will likely influence how both characters develop and impact the promotion’s direction in the months ahead.
