WWE Wastes Perfect Cody Rhodes Rival Opportunity, Says Vet

Following Cody Rhodes’ victory over Drew McIntyre at WWE WrestlePalooza, plans appear to be heading toward a renewed rivalry with Seth Rollins. Yet, wrestling veteran Vince Russo believes that WWE’s creative team is missing a prime chance by not pushing Rusev as a Cody Rhodes wrestling rival. This suggestion comes amid recent matches featuring Rusev against JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio, but Russo thinks the Bulgarian Brute could quickly rise if given proper booking.

According to Russo, Rusev’s potential as a strong antagonist to Rhodes remains untapped due to a lack of consistent victories and storyline focus. He described a clear path for Rusev’s ascent that would make him a compelling challenge for the American Nightmare, emphasizing how strategic wins could boost his credibility substantially.

On the Legion of RAW podcast, Vince Russo stated:

“Bro what if they would’ve bought Rusev back in, he would have went on a run up until now. That would have definitely been a formidable opponent for Cody Rhodes. You get Rusev with Dominik Mysterio? (…) I mean all you had to do was give him win after win after win after win. God forbid you bring Lana back, uh oh. That’s a tailor-made opponent for Cody.”

Signs Point Toward Possible Heel Turn for Cody Rhodes After WrestlePalooza

In the aftermath of WrestlePalooza, analyst Sam Roberts has observed subtle indicators suggesting that Cody Rhodes might soon shift toward a heel character. Roberts noted that while Rhodes technically won his match cleanly, the manner in which he exploited Drew McIntyre’s weaknesses hinted at a darker edge in his performance.

Speaking during the WrestlePalooza recap show on WWE’s official YouTube channel, Sam Roberts pointed out:

“(Cody) didn’t break any rules. But the way that he played Drew and played with Drew’s vulnerabilities. It’s not to say Drew didn’t deserve it, but there is something that’s a little less shiny and nice about the way Cody won this match than the way historically he has won matches. I don’t mean this literally because he did win clean, but it wasn’t as clean cut of a Cody match as we’re used to seeing. That’s the difference. There’s that little edge to Cody.”

As of now, WWE has not confirmed any storyline developments for Cody Rhodes, making it uncertain whether this new edge will lead to a sustained character shift or a fresh direction in his ongoing narrative.

Potential Ramifications of Missed Rivalry Opportunities

WWE’s decision to push Cody Rhodes against familiar opponents like Seth Rollins rather than introducing fresh, credible rivals such as Rusev could have considerable effects on future storylines. Wrestling veterans argue that by neglecting to capitalize on Rusev’s potential momentum, the company risks limiting compelling matchups and the growth of emerging talent.

Given that compelling rivalries elevate audience engagement and add depth to character arcs, missing an opportunity to fully develop Rusev as a dominant adversary for Rhodes may lead to stagnation within the mid-to-main event scene. The involvement of other talents like Dominik Mysterio alongside Rusev could open new storyline possibilities, broadening WWE’s narrative scope.

Industry observers are watching closely to see whether WWE will reconsider these creative choices or continue along the current path, which some insiders have criticized as conservative booking. The way these rivalries unfold will significantly affect both the performers’ career trajectories and fan interest in upcoming WWE events.