Cody Rhodes, a major figure in WWE, currently holds a top spot among fan-favorite babyfaces, however, many wish to see him play a more villainous role. During a discussion on the recent episode of “The Pivot” podcast, Cody indicated that if he were to become a heel, he would go full “scorched earth” and wouldn’t just play the role of the “cool heel.”
Cody explained, “Being a heel in wrestling can be challenging, particularly in the current climate. What defines a heel? In essence, a heel is a character that aims to take away the things that audiences appreciate. Many in the industry believe some types of heat are wrong, but as long as you can control and endure the heat, there’s no such thing as the wrong type of heat. Given the trend of ‘cancel culture,’ where anyone can be dismissed at any time, a heel’s task is essentially to make themselves a candidate for cancellation. A heel should not aim to be popular or maximize merchandise sales.”
He elaborated, “In the modern wrestling scene, the term ‘heel’ has become synonymously tied with ‘The Rock’-type personas that aren’t legitimate heels. However, you have to push boundaries and upset fans in authentic ways to make an impact. For instance, causing frustration by taking away a desired spot can get fans engaged and create a worthwhile adversarial dynamic.”
Cody continued, “Enter that space isn’t something everyone is comfortable with. However, like John Bradshaw Layfield, a wrestler who was so committed to playing the heel role that he would ensure no one could purchase his merchandise during matches, there is an art to taking up such a position. It’s a distinctive creative space and requires earnest commitment, vulnerability, and a certain ruthiness.”
He concluded, “There’s a rising number of fans that wish for me to take up such a heel role. But let me be clear, if I were to step into that position, it’d be a scorched earth situation. Becoming a heel is not about becoming the next ‘cool’ superstar like The Rock, it’s about fully embracing the role of a villain.”
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