15 New Directions For WWE After WrestleMania 42
4. Cody Rhodes Going Heel
Cody kinda has to go rogue after a predictably frosty response in Las Vegas. Both Rhodes and WWE have done amazingly well to sustain his babyface run for as long as they have, but it’s time for change. They stacked the deck against him at ‘Mania with Randy Orton trying to go heel himself and Pat McAfee’s involvement, but people in Allegiant Stadium still wanted Randy to win the WWE Title in the end.
WWE's go to hero also loudly shouted, “I’m sorry” after shoving Orton into the ring post amidst fan boos. Then, not stopping there, he poked Randy's eyes and even hit a low blow (admittedly after blocking Orton's own attempt). Yep, a heel turn is incoming, and it could be generational if TKO don’t meddle and just let Cody do his thing.
It was a really good idea to lean into the boos rather than try to portray Rhodes as a sympathetic type fighting from underneath against sustained heel heat from Randy. Instead, they went the other way with it by having Orton bleed buckets as Cody continued peppering him with punches and wouldn't let up.
There was a knowing look of going against everything he believes in from Rhodes as he did so.
Some wouldn't have liked this match no matter what, but both guys did tell a cracking story to close out Saturday night's card. It was for the best that Cody snarled as he pounded an old friend's skull into dust, because now he can spin out into a satisfying heel stint that quells the critics.