Cody Rhodes Could Turn Heel In WWE, But His Paul Heyman Alliance May Not Be What Fans Expect

Cody Rhodes is willing to explore a different character direction in WWE.© NDTV Library

Cody Rhodes is open to turning heel in WWE, and a partnership with Paul Heyman is part of that talk. He said so on ESPN's UNSPORTSMANLIKE in a recent interview, adding that if WWE needs it, he's willing. But he also explained why a shift might not look like a standard villain turn, pointing to the mixed reactions he gets from crowds. Heyman's history with Rhodes' father, Dusty, gives the idea a personal angle too. Still, Rhodes has not said WWE is planning either a turn or an alliance.

Cody Rhodes Explains Why WWE Audiences May Already See a Different Side of His Character

Rhodes framed a character change as WWE's call, not something he's demanding. “Whatever it is, whatever's best for WWE,” he said, and he added that he's just as willing to stay a babyface.

He also suggested that audiences may already view him differently. “If you think I'm a heel, I might already be a heel,” Rhodes said, pointing to the split in how fans interpret his actions.

His recent comments about Randy Orton came up as an example. Rhodes said he loved punting Orton and expected boos after delivering the line with a growl. The crowd cheered instead.“I thought, ‘Oh, I thought they were going to boo,'” he recalled.

Paul Heyman's History With Dusty Rhodes Gives a Possible WWE Alliance a Personal Angle

A Heyman partnership would come with real history behind it. Rhodes said his relationship with Heyman is shaped partly by the manager's connection with his father, Dusty Rhodes.

Heyman recently recorded an appearance on Cody's podcast, What Do You Wanna Talk About?, which is expected to air in the week after Thanksgiving.

According to Rhodes, they talked about why they get along, and he described “a sense of loyalty” between them. He did not say WWE has discussed turning that relationship into an on-screen alliance.

He also expects a heel run to come with trade-offs. “Me as a heel would take a lot away from what I currently do, and it would probably add in its own way,” he said. Rhodes added that the character would look “different than people think.”

Triple H remains in charge of WWE creative, Rhodes said. He believes the company would take opportunity if the timing was right, but he accepted that a heel turn might never happen. Rhodes did not confirm any planned character change or Heyman alliance.

Besides all that, he briefly mentioned his Team USA and Team Mexico responsibilities, and suggested a heel version of him might handle that diplomacy differently.