With a roster of premiere talent across its brands, Cody Rhodes has emerged as the leader WWE can champion in any capacity. Saturday’s Bash In Berlin post-show was the perfect example of that.
Rhodes had to make the EVP hot tag for Triple H by providing the attendance figures for Berlin. That alone is a testament to the confidence they have in Cody as their Atlas, and he excelled in several ways. Rhodes has the ability to walk the tightrope of keeping the company in mind while also being forthright in a press conference where he doesn’t necessarily have to be. The trust is there, and for good reason.
Cody navigated a Randy Orton question that in all likelihood played spoiler to a major storyline planned, but that was just the warm-up to the crossfire he was about to get in. Rhodes got the double-barrel aimed his way when he was asked outright about the Netflix Vince McMahon docu-series, a question that deserved to be asked, but there were two more add-ons: “Why has the locker room been so silent” and “do you believe Janel Grant?”
Handling Difficult Situations
Both questions were more sensational than professional. 1) Many prominent figures had addressed the situation when the story initially broke, and 2) Cody shouldn’t be put in a position to play judge. It was clearly a question designed to generate headlines, and it succeeded, but Rhodes navigated the waters beautifully, saying, “I don’t know enough about the information to give you a good enough answer. I’m sorry.”
Regarding the perceived silence in the locker room, Rhodes noted, “I don’t think that’s a matter of belief versus non-belief. I think, strictly speaking, we want to be doing what we were doing out there.” He mentioned that the locker room learned about the documentary just as the rest of the world did.
He handled the questions with such skill that even a seasoned White House press secretary would be impressed.
Cody’s position at the forefront of WWE’s brand is a testament to both his individual efforts and the company’s support. His merchandise sales are booming, a clear indication of his popularity and the fans’ embrace of his genuine babyface persona, a sentiment that had seemed absent since the Hulkamania era.
The First Cody Rhodes
Cody’s revival of this classic persona has been a welcome addition to the new era of WWE. CM Punk and Damian Priest effectively fill those alternative roles on RAW, but Cody, as the modern-day Babe Ruth, provides WWE (and pro wrestling as a whole) with a sense of positive nostalgia, reimagined for today’s audience.
Fans are concerned with Cody getting overshadowed by a Roman Reigns babyface run, but Reigns feels like he’ll basically have the schedule he’s used to. The consistency is what will keep Rhodes the guy the company can lean on. The presence of both feels like they’ll enhance rather than hinder one another. That table was already set with Roman helping Cody retain at SummerSlam. Adversaries becoming allies always creates intrigue, and the two may have a “Final Boss” to deal with during WrestleMania season.
Cody’s rise also coincides with John Cena’s retirement tour in 2025. Cena held that role for years when the crowd wasn’t willing to embrace it, but Cena stayed the course through the “Cena sucks” chants and fans ultimately appreciated him for it. Cody’s mentioned how he’s learned a lot about merchandise sales from John, but Cena undoubtedly laid the groundwork by showing staying steady in that role ultimately pays off.
For all of the talk of the next John Cena, Cody Rhodes is forging his own path in this new modern era. It’s all about playing the long-game, and Rhodes is WWE’s new marathon man.
