Cody Rhodes’ recent loss of the WWE Championship to Drew McIntyre in a Three Stages of Hell match on SmackDown has sparked accusations that WWE is neglecting the star after his storyline concluded. Rhodes, known as the American Nightmare, had held the WWE Title for just over 150 days following his victory over John Cena at SummerSlam 2025, but many fans and insiders feel his reign was marked by a lack of significant creative direction.
Throughout much of his time as champion, Rhodes faced similar opponents repeatedly, which some argue diminished the excitement around his reign. Despite his prominent status, the momentum did not build as expected, culminating in a title loss that some believe was not properly capitalized on by WWE’s creative team.
Vince Russo Critiques WWE’s Handling of Rhodes
Former WWE writer Vince Russo openly criticized WWE’s approach to Rhodes on his podcast, Vince Russo’s The Brand. Russo compared Rhodes’ situation to past wrestling icons, highlighting a difference in fan support after losing a championship. He argued that typically when a babyface star loses the title, fans rally behind that wrestler wanting to see them regain the championship, but that enthusiasm seems absent in Rhodes’ case.
“When Austin didn’t have the title or he lost the title, bro, you always rallied behind Austin. You wanted him to get that title back. And bro, we can go back to Bruno. We can go back to Hulk Hogan. You know, when the babyface lost that title, you immediately were behind the babyface, wanting them to get that title back. Bro, I don’t think that’s going to be the case with Cody at all,” he said.
Russo further explained his disappointment by accusing WWE’s creative team of failing to properly build Rhodes as a strong champion. He claimed the promotion’s failure to develop Rhodes during his title reign has left him sidelined now that his storyline has ended.
“They put that belt on Cody, and when he had that belt, they did not build him at all. So the original story is, ‘I got to finish the story, I got to finish the story.’ Okay, great. Since Cody has finished his story, they’ve done nothing with him,” he added.
Big WrestleMania Plans for Cody Rhodes Abandoned
Fans had anticipated Cody Rhodes would headline WrestleMania 42 as the WWE Champion, with a highly anticipated third showdown against Roman Reigns in the works. However, plans shifted after Drew McIntyre captured the title, according to reports from Wrestling Observer Radio.
The initial WrestleMania setup involving Rhodes and Reigns was reportedly scrapped, with creative now reportedly considering a triple threat match featuring Drew McIntyre defending the WWE Championship against Rhodes and Jacob Fatu. This new direction signifies a major adjustment to Rhodes’ position heading into one of wrestling’s biggest annual events.
Implications for Cody Rhodes and WWE Storytelling
The situation highlights underlying frustrations with WWE’s creative decisions regarding Cody Rhodes, a top-tier talent whose momentum stalled following his championship run. The apparent lack of follow-up storylines or meaningful pushes raises questions about how WWE plans to utilize Rhodes moving forward.
If WWE continues to neglect Rhodes’ potential, it may risk losing audience investment in one of its key stars. The reshuffled WrestleMania plans further emphasize the uncertain road ahead for Rhodes, making his future role in the promotion a critical issue for fans and the industry alike.
