Following his stirring victory over John Cena in the main event of SummerSlam Night Two, Cody Rhodes took time during the post-show media scrum to address widespread speculation about a potential heel turn. The WWE Superstar emphatically denied plans to embrace a villainous role anytime soon, reaffirming his commitment to his babyface character and explaining the heartfelt inspiration behind using his late father Dusty Rhodes’ voice in his SummerSlam entrance.
Cody Rhodes entered SummerSlam as the Undisputed WWE Champion, defending his title in a grueling Street Fight against John Cena. The match had fans buzzing about a possible double turn — with rumors suggesting Rhodes might pivot to a darker persona while Cena would return to the fan-favorite role. Rhodes confronted these theories head-on during an interview following the event.
On the GABBY AF podcast, Rhodes stated, “People talk like, ‘I bet they’re going to do a double turn.’ No.” He elaborated that turning heel would be detrimental both to himself and WWE, saying, “It would be detrimental to the place I work to make a pivot. No more Kingdom, no more promos, no more merch, real bad guy stuff.” He stressed that while he remains open to how storylines evolve, a heel turn was not on his immediate horizon[1].
Further adding to this, Rhodes shared candid insights on the appeal of playing a good guy versus a bad guy during an appearance on The Bill Simmons Podcast. While conceding that bad guys have traditionally been given more dramatic spotlight opportunities, Rhodes emphasized his strong connection with fans that he does not want to jeopardize: “They can boo all they want if certain people decide like, ‘Cody’s a heel to me.’ But I don’t think I’d ever turn ‘cause it’s just too much of a connection with those who were on board with me”[2].
Aside from clarifying his character trajectory, Rhodes opened up about the emotional choices behind his SummerSlam entrance, which featured the voice of his late father, Dusty Rhodes, as part of the introduction. According to backstage sources close to WWE, this tribute was planned as a deeply personal moment for Cody, linking the beginning of his wrestling legacy with this pinnacle of his career achievement. The use of Dusty’s voice served as a powerful reminder of the Rhodes family wrestling dynasty and its continuing impact on Cody’s journey.
Multiple wrestling news outlets and insiders praised the thoughtful homage. One WWE insider confided, “Cody’s entrance was more than just theatrics — it was a passing of the torch and a nod to everything his dad taught him. It resonated emotionally with the WWE Universe because it’s real, something you can’t fake.” This authentic connection only solidifies Cody’s status as one of WWE’s top babyfaces[1][4].
Meanwhile, speculation about other possible heel turns within WWE continues. Analysts have suggested that WWE might be saving Rhodes’ heel turn for a major future storyline, possibly involving a high-profile feud with Roman Reigns or allowing another top star like Randy Orton to execute a heel turn first[3]. However, for now, Rhodes appears firmly committed to his “American Nightmare” persona as a heroic figure.
In summary, Cody Rhodes’ recent comments and his emotional SummerSlam entrance confirm that the WWE superstar is not planning a heel turn following his championship victory over John Cena. Instead, he honors his father’s legacy while maintaining the babyface character that has endeared him to fans worldwide. As Rhodes said himself, “Bad guy is fun… but I think people haven’t seen what a good guy can really be,” underscoring his ongoing mission to connect with the WWE Universe through authenticity and passion[2].
For continued updates on WWE news and Cody Rhodes’ evolving storylines, stay tuned to official sources such as WWE.com, Fightful, and top wrestling podcasts.