Mark Henry has hinted that Cody Rhodes might switch to a villainous role after delivering a "heel-ish" promo on SmackDown as WWE Champion. Rhodes is currently engaged in a heated rivalry with Drew McIntyre, and Henry feels that the Scottish wrestler brings out a darker side of the "American Nightmare."
During a tense exchange with SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis, Rhodes confidently claimed responsibility for a significant tweet, while Aldis warned him that he isn’t above the rules. Rhodes asserted that as long as he holds the WWE Championship, he would play by the rules. This outburst followed news that if Rhodes physically attacked McIntyre before their next title bout, he would lose the championship. Previously, Rhodes had trespassed into a Scottish man’s house and assaulted him before police intervened.
Henry commented on Rhodes’ promo, suggesting McIntyre has pushed Rhodes to his limits, uncovering some villainous traits. At Busted Open, Henry said, "In that promo to Nick Aldis, he sounded arrogant and very heel-like, which is unusual for Cody. Maybe Drew McIntyre is the catalyst for this change." Henry added, "McIntyre isn’t just after the title; he’s trying to break Cody. I’ve never seen a good guy dragged down like Cody is now."
Rhodes has defended his title against McIntyre twice already—at Wrestlepalooza in September and again at the November main event of Saturday Night. However, their rivalry persists, with another championship match planned soon.
Since returning to WWE at WrestleMania 38 in April 2022, Rhodes has been a heroic figure and a top star, currently in his second reign as WWE Champion after beating John Cena at SummerSlam. Although Rhodes has portrayed villainous characters before, including during his time in TNA, he recently confided to Becky Lynch that he doubts he can pull off a heel role at this point.
As one of WWE’s premier babyfaces, a full heel turn seems unlikely for now. However, with a potential WrestleMania 42 face-off against Roman Reigns on the horizon, the storyline may be laying the groundwork for a darker side to emerge. WWE might capitalize on Rhodes’ frustration by having him resort to cheating, sparking a heel run that could add fresh dynamics.
Fan Take: This development is exciting because it signals that WWE is willing to explore complex character shifts for top stars like Cody Rhodes, which could energize storylines and rivalries. For fans, a potential heel turn could offer a fresh, unpredictable chapter in Rhodes’ career and shake up WWE’s current landscape.
