Right now, it might seem hard to believe for WWE fans. Cody has been positioned as the hero of the company, but things are beginning to fall apart for him. Allies are distancing themselves, and in the case of Kevin Owens, they’re outright turning on him.

That’s where the tricky part comes in. Everyone knows Cody Rhodes is the ultimate good guy—possibly the biggest babyface in all of professional wrestling right now. And he’ll need to stay that way at least until WrestleMania, especially with The Rock back, playing the “corporate heel” as a final boss-type figure. But that’s the timeline WWE is working with—WrestleMania is the expiration date for Rhodes’ time as the beloved good guy.

The cracks are Showing cody’s current character is compelling because he’s such a straight-up, morally driven hero—almost too good. His insistence on seeing the best in people, even Roman Reigns, is starting to alienate him from others.

Kevin Owens already attacked him for accepting this “new” Reigns, setting the stage for a feud that will likely carry them through the end of 2024. Randy Orton has also confronted Rhodes, and knowing Orton, a vicious turn against Cody seems inevitable. Meanwhile, Seth Rollins took a shot at Rhodes during the October 7 edition of RAW, criticizing his decisions involving Reigns. It’s clear a showdown with Rollins is also on the horizon.

In the eyes of guys like Owens, Orton, and Rollins, Cody’s willingness to work with Roman Reigns is almost a betrayal. They have long-standing issues with Reigns, and Cody’s refusal to hold a grudge is rubbing them the wrong way.

The Inevitable Heel Turn
This is where the classic “die a hero or live long enough to become a villain” trope comes into play. Beyond the storyline, Cody’s title reign has felt somewhat predictable and stale, especially compared to Roman Reigns’ epic Bloodline saga. Cody’s lengthy promos and dramatic entrances are bound to wear on fans eventually, no matter how beloved he is right now.

Cody’s character seems modeled after a superhero, much like John Cena. He’s determined to be the unshakeable good guy, and that’s why he never turned heel in AEW and continues to play this role in WWE. But the other side of that coin is a delusional, power-hungry villain—a role that Cody could easily embrace down the line, resembling a character like Homelander.

There’s a very real possibility that two WrestleMania’s from now, a massively popular babyface Roman Reigns could face an ultimate heel Cody Rhodes in a complete reversal of their current roles.

WWE has been carefully laying the groundwork for this, inching closer to the ultimate goal: a beloved Reigns, back in the main event with the championship around his waist.

Long-term storytelling If WWE handles Cody’s gradual descent into villainy as skillfully as they did with the Bloodline saga, they can keep him as a fan-favorite babyface for the rest of this year and into early 2025. This slow-burn heel turn would create a captivating, long-term storyline that WWE can showcase for years, much like the Bloodline saga.

The full heel turn could happen right after WrestleMania 2025, once The Rock has returned to Hollywood. At that point, WWE will need a new top heel, and Cody could step right into that role. Whether it’s due to one final betrayal—perhaps from someone like Sami Zayn—or losing his title, or simply a crowd that starts rejecting him, the writing is on the wall.

WrestleMania 2025 and the months following are the prime moments to watch for Cody’s heel turn.

A new era of storytelling this will require WWE to capitalize on the long entrances, fan fatigue, and the mounting frustration Cody faces as his attempts to “do the right thing” blow up in his face.

If WWE continues the level of storytelling they’ve demonstrated since Triple H took over creative, they have the potential to deliver a stunning, organic heel turn for Cody that rivals any major storyline in recent memory.

The path to a mega-heel Cody Rhodes is clear. And if WWE takes it, it could be another defining moment in what has become a new era of storytelling for professional wrestling.