Did WWE miss a golden opportunity with Cody Rhodes? WWE Hall of Famer shares his thoughts on a potential heel

WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi recently revealed that he wanted to see Cody Rhodes turn against The Tribal Chief. In a surprising turn of events, Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns, former rivals, put their animosity aside and teamed up to face a common enemy: The Bloodline. This rare alliance took place at a Bad Blood 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia, capturing the attention of WWE fans worldwide. While the storyline of two enemies forced to work together has been done many times before, the chemistry between Rhodes and Reigns intrigued fans, particularly in light of the ongoing Bloodline saga.

The Alliance that Worked

Despite their storied rivalry, Rhodes and Reigns cooperated seamlessly during the match. They not only secured victory but also exhibited solid teamwork, with Reigns even stepping in to save Rhodes from a post-match attack. The event concluded without any signs of tension between the two megastars, leaving fans curious about where this partnership might lead.

However, some believed that WWE missed an opportunity for an unexpected twist during the match. One of those voices was none other than WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi, who shared his thoughts on his Off the Top podcast.

Rikishi’s Perspective: A Missed Heel Turn

Rikishi, a member of the legendary Anoa’i wrestling family, had a different vision for the match’s conclusion. He explained that while the match ended without any discord, he would have preferred to see Cody Rhodes turn heel on Roman Reigns. According to Rikishi, this would have added a new layer of excitement to the ongoing storyline.

“I almost feel like, man, I would have thought, and this is just my weird mind, I’m always thinking, when people go left, I go right, during that time, it damn sure would have been nice if Cody turned on Roman,” Rikishi said during his podcast.

He continued by acknowledging the unique dynamic between Rhodes and Reigns, pointing out that both superstars are massive babyfaces. But in Rikishi's opinion, Rhodes is primed for a character change. He remarked, “You got two big babyfaces, and Cody’s been that babyface since Roman’s been gone.”

The Appeal of a Heel Cody Rhodes

Rikishi explained that Reigns, once reviled by WWE fans, has now transformed into a respected figure. The audience’s reaction to Reigns has shifted dramatically, making the idea of Rhodes turning on him all the more impactful. “This was once a guy that people hated his guts, but as you can listen, man. You be got the champion, and you’ve got a guy that lost to the champion, making his [return], coming back to wrestle, and the building erupted.”

The timing of such a heel turn, according to Rikishi, would have been perfect. He said, “So I thought, man, it’s gonna happen right now. In my mind, I said, ‘This would be the perfect time for Cody to switch up.’”

Rikishi even envisioned a scenario where this could lead to bigger things for both Rhodes and Reigns, potentially involving The Rock and continuing The Bloodline storyline. “So now you switch up, you have Cody and Roman come back, and boom, Roman’s already a babyface now. Boom, the belt drops to Roman, boom here comes The Rock. Now we can continue on.”

Cody’s Potential as a Heel

Rikishi further elaborated on why Cody Rhodes could excel as a heel, even though he’s currently a beloved babyface. He noted Cody’s polished appearance and charismatic promos, which could easily be perceived as arrogance. “Cody is sharp-dressed. He’s a babyface, but he’s one of those guys that you can hate real quick. When you see him on TV, his promos, almost like arrogant. He’s a nice guy, but arrogant.”

The WWE Hall of Famer concluded by sharing his excitement for what the future might hold for Cody Rhodes: “I can’t wait for Cody Rhodes to turn heel.”

What’s Next for Rhodes and Reigns?

While Cody Rhodes didn’t turn heel at the Premium Live Event, Rikishi’s fantasy booking certainly sparked a conversation among wrestling fans. With the ongoing Bloodline saga still captivating audiences, the possibility of a major storyline shift involving Rhodes remains on the table. Whether or not WWE will follow through on this potential heel turn is yet to be seen, but one thing is clear: Cody Rhodes has all the tools to make a villainous transformation if and when the time comes.

Also read: Is The Rock's comeback a threat to Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 41?