Former WWE writer Vince Russo believes that a significant shift is necessary for Cody Rhodes’ WWE presentation following his recent loss of the Undisputed Championship. Rhodes, known as “The American Nightmare,” was defeated by Drew McIntyre in a Three Stages of Hell match on the January 9 episode of SmackDown held in Berlin. The match included a first fall victory for McIntyre, a strong comeback by Rhodes in the second fall, and interference from Jacob Fatu in the final Steel Cage match, which helped McIntyre secure the win.
Russo pointed out that Rhodes lacked momentum throughout his title reign, causing WWE to bring Fatu into the storyline as a way to inject interest. He argued that this move revealed a lack of creative direction for Cody and suggested the best solution would be to turn Rhodes heel to reinvigorate his character and storyline.
“So, now they had the heel beat him, and bro, I don’t think fans are gonna rally or be behind Cody whatsoever to get that title back. I think they know that because they’ve booked the dude horribly. And that’s why I think they did the Jacob Fatu thing, because I don’t, I think at this point, bro, they don’t have any other choice but to turn Cody heel.”
— Vince Russo, Former WWE Writer
Russos’ Thoughts on a Potential Cody Rhodes Versus Drew McIntyre Rematch
Continuing his analysis on Vince Russo’s The Brand, Russo explained that typically when a babyface loses a championship, fans eagerly anticipate a rematch. However, he noted that in Rhodes’ case, fans lack enthusiasm for such a follow-up bout due to how he was booked. Russo believes that Rhodes’ character was weakened too much, diminishing fan interest in his quest to reclaim the title from Drew McIntyre.
“When the heel takes the belt from the babyface, you should have that babyface built so strongly that the people can’t wait for the rematch. But like in this case, bro, I don’t think some of the most loyalist of WWE fans really wanna see Cody get that title back.”
— Vince Russo, Former WWE Writer
Meanwhile, WWE has already moved past the Rhodes-McIntyre feud and announced a tournament to decide the next number one contender for Drew McIntyre’s championship, indicating a shift in focus from Rhodes’ storyline.
Implications for Cody Rhodes’ Future in WWE
The commentary by Russo highlights the challenges Cody Rhodes faces as WWE reassesses his role following the loss of his title. A heel turn, as suggested, could reshape his character’s direction and possibly rekindle fan engagement. Given WWE’s swift progression toward new contenders, how Rhodes adapts in the coming weeks will be essential in determining his trajectory within the company.
