The Undertakers bring over Cody Rhodes as WWE’s new anti-Roman Reigns

After spending years and years with Roman Reigns at the top, WWE finally pulled the trigger on making Cody Rhodes the new WWE Champion, giving a top belt to a certified babyface for the first time since what, Big E in 2022 gave, but simply made the decision does not define a title reign, but instead the totality of it.

Fortunately, according to one of the most respected men in WWE history, The Undertaker, Rhodes is off to a very good start, because after years of booking shows in one direction, the “American Nightmare” now presents the promotion with a kind of anti -Reigns who can engage fans as a babyface and inspire a new generation of ‘Little Nightmares’ around the world.

“He’s doing a phenomenal job, and again, I think he’s going to have a great time as a babyface. But I think his bigger run will be as a heel,” The Undertaker explained Insight with Chris Van Vliet via Fightful. “There’s just something about Cody that makes me picture myself as a heel. It’s coming because right now he’s killing it as a babyface, his promos are good and he’s fighting all the people he should be. He is almost an anti-Roman, it will be very interesting when Roman comes back.”

You know, this isn’t the first time Rhodes has been said to have heel potential, as fans have been pushing for years for him to make a move on the bad side, and WWE Hall of Famers have suggested he could be more. Anakin Skywalker than Luke Skywalker since he secured the belt in April. But if Rhodes wants to be a babyface now, and it works for both fans and the front office, why not keep the train rolling until the wheels fall off?

Cody Rhodes explains Matt Cardona’s run in AEW.

Speaking of Cody Rhodes, in a recent appearance on the Podcast for major wrestling figures, the ‘American Nightmare’ finally explained his best friend Matt Cardona’s strange tenure in AEW, which lasted less than a month and featured just two matches. While Rhodes was really hoping to see Cardona in AEW for a special run alongside his former WWE buddy, things seemingly turned out very differently from the jump.

“I had a meeting planned between Matt Cardona and Tony Khan, and the best I could do because of the climate in terms of the pandemic and the fourth floor and the afterparty, which was always fun, it was just good for morale. I thought they could meet there and Tony said it was a great idea. The setting isn’t great, we should have flown to Matt or done it in the office somewhere. The setting is not great,” Cody Rhodes explained on TV Podcast for major wrestling figures via Vecht.

“It was so insanely uncomfortable during that period of time, because I noticed that Matt – you know, when Matt gets a little nervous, the shoulders get tense and his face gets a little redder than it already is. You can feel his energy, so I could tell he was a little nervous about this meeting, and whatever, I’m not judging that in any way. But he hasn’t told me anything yet, what he’s going to say and of course I trust that my best friend is doing well and that I don’t have to do anything other than say: hey guys, here you are. Are.

“This is how the conversation started – and if I could have taken a terrible back hit on the cement, I would have taken a back hit, it was so shocking. Tony starts talking and it’s not long before Matt says, “Well, let me stop you there.” He already has a bullish fortune that favors a bold approach to this. He says, “Let me stop you there. I want you to know that I don’t want to be here just to be Cody’s friend. I want you to know that I wouldn’t be caught dead if I wore a Nightmare Family jacket.” This is happening to me in real time, and this is the man I suggested I come in as my boyfriend. I remember Tony being such a nice guy, he just said, “Oh, okay.” and the meeting was over. It was over, we sat there for probably another hour and nothing of substance was said because it just tore me to shreds, it killed me.

Should AEW have brought Cardona in for more appearances than he got? Overall, his jersey sold incredibly well when he signed with the promotion, and his outside ventures, such as the Podcast for major wrestling figures, have helped him create a whole new community of fans eager to pay money for their live shows and a host of merchandise. But considering that he eventually returned to AEW a few years later to have a match against his mentor, Adam “Edge” Copeland, it’s safe to say that Cardona’s story had a nice ending as well.