Cody Rhodes said on ESPN Radio’s UnSportsmanLike that a WWE heel turn is on the table, with creative holding the final say. The interview came days after a Last Man Standing win over Randy Orton at Crown Jewel on Nov. 7 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Survivor Series: WarGames on Nov. 28 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas, is next, with Rhodes set to captain Team USA.
What Cody Rhodes Told UnSportsmanLike
The heel turn question came up when the show asked about a possible on-screen pairing with Paul Heyman. “I have a unique relationship with Mr. Heyman because of his relationship with my dad,” Rhodes said. Heyman taped an episode of the Rhodes podcast, set to air the week after Thanksgiving.
Asked about a turn, Rhodes said, “I’m really open,” and that the choice comes down to what is best for WWE. On how fans view the character, Rhodes put it this way: “If you think I’m a heel, then I’m already a heel.” On how a turn would look, the answer was, “I think it looks different than people think.”
“Triple H is the one guiding the ship here,” Rhodes said, before adding that “when it’s time, we won’t miss that opportunity.” One caveat followed: “But if it’s never time, I’m sorry.” Rhodes also said, “Heel Cody, I don’t think, makes it on UnSportsmanLike.”
At Elimination Chamber on March 1, 2025, in Toronto, Rhodes received an offer to become The Rock’s champion. The reply was a flat no, with a curse thrown in. John Cena turned heel that night by attacking Rhodes.
Orton attacked Rhodes during the WrestleMania 42 contract signing on the March 13, 2026, SmackDown. Rhodes retained the Undisputed WWE Championship on Night One on April 18 in Las Vegas, and Orton answered with a punt after the bell. Sami Zayn won the title at Night of Champions in June, in a triple threat match that also included Gunther.
Orton and Rhodes met again at Sunday Night’s Main Event on Sept. 6. Late in the match, Rhodes set up a punt, and Orton begged for mercy, then hit a low blow and an RKO for the pin. The punt never landed that night.
At Crown Jewel, Rhodes landed the punt, and Orton stayed down for the count. Two nights later, on the Nov. 9 Raw in Greenville, South Carolina, Rhodes told the crowd the punt was not needed. The UnSportsmanLike interview revisited the Raw line, “I loved punting Randy Orton. I loved it.” Rhodes said a growl went into the delivery and boos were expected, but “they just cheered.”
Cena named Rhodes the first invitee to the John Cena Classic on the Nov. 2 Raw in Brooklyn, New York. The event is a special Raw on Dec. 14 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Club WWE members have a say in the tournament, and the winner receives a new championship belt.
Rhodes appeared on the Nov. 9 Raw as the captain of Team USA and brought out Team Mexico leader Rey Mysterio. CM Punk volunteered for a spot during the segment and got a yes. Je’Von Evans is also on Team USA. The two sides meet in a traditional five-on-five elimination match.
What’s your take? Post it in our free sports community at stadiumrant.app, or download Stadium Rant on the App Store.
End Of My Cody Rhodes Rant
Now is the time for Rhodes to go heel, and the turn is already halfway done. The Rhodes who never landed the punt on a begging Orton in September punted the same man cold in November, then bragged about it on Raw. Fans cheered the bragging anyway, which fits the turn described on UnSportsmanLike, one that looks different from what people expect. A turn segment, fresh music, and new gear were not needed to get there.
WWE should pass on the big swerve. A Heyman alliance, a sold soul, or a betrayal of a Team USA partner in Houston would all be the old playbook. Rhodes already said no to The Rock in 2025, and Cena got the heel turn instead. Running the soul-selling angle back with Heyman would be a rerun, and the punt already did a manager’s work.
Let the edge grow in plain sight. Win ugly for Team USA. Take the cheap shot in Orlando and dare the Club WWE members to reward it. Triple H holds the wheel, and the turn already looks different from the usual heel turn, because the crowd keeps cheering the meanest Rhodes yet.
