THIS Is The Man Who Should End Cody’s TNT Title Reign (And How)

In which direction is this character development headed? After several high-profile losses, the big win over Lance Archer at Double Or Nothing has informed a new demeanour. He isn't playing a babyface. He isn't playing a heel. He's playing a Champion. He's locked-in, he's aggressive, he punches himself in the face with a guttural roar. He is performing with a confidence and determination that might be interpreted as cockiness and an insistence on getting himself over.

AEW is doing something related in some way to the Four Horsemen. Is Cody the Ric Flair?

Theory: Cody is foreshadowing a heel turn, but it's an incredibly deft red herring in that, in the meantime before this something happens, the mystery allows him to play subtle heel in his defences. The initial idea behind the title is to defend it weekly, rehabilitate Cody's aura away from the other accusations he was facing as a serial loser, and get the mid and undercard talent over in spirited, narrow losses. In execution, this so far has just about worked: we already knew what Jungle Boy was an awesome talent not too far removed from superstardom. He probably didn't need to endure another high-profile defeat. But Marq Quen proved himself a worker of more depth than the spectacular high spot practitioner that entered the match, and Cody gave Ricky Starks quite the rub with several close near-falls.

This is a role Cody almost has to play as a tweener.

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