18 Ups & 15 Downs For WWE In 2023

6. Cody Makes Chicken Salad

As previously established, Cody Rhodes should have finished the story at WrestleMania 39, either by beating Roman Reigns for both world titles or splitting off the WWE Championship to allow the Tribal Chief to continue ruling over SmackDown.

The end result of Rhodes failing at Mania could have been a burying of the character and a lack of direction. And while there was a degree of lack of focus, Cody managed to turn a piss-poor booking decision into a successful 2023.

Right out of the chute, he was thrust into a heated rivalry with Brock Lesnar that would have worked perfectly had Cody been the champ, but he nonetheless produced a well-received feud when it was finished at SummerSlam. His longstanding feud with the Judgment Day has been both a high point and a low point as it’s dragged on in multiple permutations throughout the summer and fall with different partners joining him in the battle. Rhodes closed out 2023 ensconced in a rivalry with Shinsuke Nakamura that has played to mixed results.

So why does Cody rate so highly on this list? Quite simply, the American Nightmare has managed to stay insanely popular with fans while keeping himself in the conversation for another go at Reigns’ title at WrestleMania 40. Fans still believe in him, and they’ve bought nearly everything he’s sold during the past year. After the disappointment of Mania this spring, that’s a true accomplishment that needs to be singled out and celebrated.