TKO May Have Rejected WWE WrestleMania Pitch For Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes has been the face of WWE for two years, and this veteran feels that WWE’s owners, TKO, may have played it close to the chest when it came to Rhodes’ character’s direction heading into WrestleMania 42.

Cody Rhodes has been a babyface for years now. After he defeated Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40, he became the face of WWE, ushering in a new era.

Since then, WWE has not allowed Rhodes to turn heel, even while some fans and critics have felt that his character as a babyface was getting stale and predictable.

Now, the latest feud that The American Nightmare is in involves Elimination Chamber winner Randy Orton, who will face Rhodes for the WWE Championship at ‘Mania 42.

After an official contract signing segment last Friday on SmackDown, Orton brutally attacked Cody, leaving him in a pool of his own blood, even though Rhodes only had good things to say about his former friend. This facilitated a heel turn for Orton, and Rhodes remains the face in the feud.

The Apex Predator even appeared on Raw this past Monday via broadcast to let everyone know that there was a mystery person who supports his actions against Cody Rhodes on SmackDown. The same mystery figure apparently explained to Oorton the need for him to turn on Rhodes. WWE fans will get answers this Friday on SmackDown when The Viper is slated to make an appearance.

WWE Veteran Feels TKO Didn’t Allow Cody Rhodes To Be a Heel

Veteran Dutch Mantell said on his show Story Time With Dutch Mantell that although Triple H probably approached them with the idea of turning Cody Rhodes heel, the TKO Group might have refused, as they didn’t want to change Rhodes’ character going into WrestleMania.

I think he [Triple H] probably told them [TKO] that, and they didn’t want it. I think TKO was intent on having Cody [Rhodes] be the babyface, and probably Triple H didn’t want to argue with them. That’s what you want? That’s what you’re going to get. He went with it, which is probably the smart thing to do…

Mantell went on to say that he feels The American Nightmare will emerge as a heel post WrestleMania 42, irrespective of the result of his match with Orton.

But I’m saying, in the end, I think Cody’s going to emerge out of this as a heel. I really do.

Also read: Ex-WWE Star: “I’m Pretty Sure [John] Cena Gave Me Probably The Thumbs Down”