Backstage Update On WWE's Plans For Cody Rhodes, WrestleMania 42 (WWE News)

Is a Cody Rhodes heel turn in the works?

by Andrew Pollard
Cody Rhodes
WWE.com

Having lost the WWE Championship to Drew McIntyre on last week's SmackDown, many are wondering what that means for the future of WWE poster boy Cody Rhodes.

While some fans have speculated that this major loss could play a part in an eventual Cody heel turn, BodySlam.net reports that there aren't currently plans for the American Nightmare to turn heel, though the second-generation star will be undergoing "a character shift". What that shift looks like remains to be seen, but there are suddenly plenty of questions surrounding Cody, Drew, Jacob Fatu, the WWE Championship, the Royal Rumble, and what could be on the horizon at WrestleMania 42.

In terms of Drew McIntyre and the WWE Title, it's been announced that the Scottish Warrior will defend that prize at the Royal Rumble against the winner of an eight-man tournament that kicks off this Friday. That tourney's line-up is Randy Orton vs. The Miz, Matt Cardona vs. Trick Williams, Damian Priest vs. Solo Sikoa, and Sami Zayn vs. Ilja Dragunov, with the winners of those bouts facing off in a fatal four-way at Saturday Night's Main Event on 24 January for a shot at the WWE Championship in Saudi Arabia later this month.

Advertisement

Given that Cody Rhodes isn't a part of that tournament and that there's been no word of an immediate WWE Title rematch for Rhodes, that suggests the 40-year-old will be an entrant in the men's Royal Rumble when the PLE rolls around on 31 January. Looking ahead to WrestleMania 42, BodySlam+ adds that the top of the 'Mania 42 card is now locked in, with plans in place barring any injuries or unforeseen circumstances. There's no word right now on what those plans are, but it'll certainly be interesting to see if Cody regains the WWE Championship at some point between now and then, or whether Drew McIntyre is the one walking into this year's Showcase of the Immortals with that particular slice of gold around his waist.

Of course, recent reports claim that WWE is lining up another Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns match for WrestleMania 42. And if that third 'Mania singles match between the two does come to be, there are merits to both sides of the argument as to whether that match would need the WWE Championship on the line.

Advertisement
Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks/Saints, Jamie Hayter, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.