“Not a Good Thing”: Cody Rhodes Deemed a Heel Character Against Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Despite Strong Crowd Support Before WrestleMania XL

The WWE Universe has undergone a roller coaster ride so far since the WrestleMania XL Kickoff show. With Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson turning heel and joining The Bloodline, things have spiced up the Road to WrestleMania. Cody Rhodes has become the biggest babyface in the company, with fans globally cheering for him to finish his story. Despite the sides being clear regarding who the babyface is and who the heel is, one ex-WWE star believes The American Nightmare is the real nightmare in this storyline.

Ryback calls out Cody Rhodes for being the real heel against The Bloodline

Since leaving the WWE in 2016, Ryback has made some bold and sometimes ridiculous claims on social media. From his rants on the former CEO of the WWE to hating on wrestlers, Ryback’s social media is a real gem. However, ahead of WrestleMania XL, he made an interesting perspective concerning Cody Rhodes. This claim states that he is not the face that we should be cheering but the heel we should be booing. He backed his claims with words from WWE legend Vince Russo. According to Ryback, as pointed out by Russo, Rhodes’ crying is a major issue. He said, “Now, this oftentimes is not a characteristic of a strong Babyface character, here and there on the right situation, yes great to show emotion. All the time? Not a good thing.”

The 2024 Royal Rumble winner has shed a tear or two while talking to Paul Heyman and Michael Cole. While fans have found this endearing in showcasing his more vulnerable side, Ryback believes Russo is right. The former WWE Intercontinental champion went on to talk about Rhodes’ dressing style. Ryback said, “Dressing in a way that’s holier than thou, which has been something of this Cody Rhodes’ character all the way back from AEW.”

Since joining The Elites on AEW, The 38-year-old has often worn a well-fitted suit while delivering his promos. The third and final point that Russo made, which Ryback cited, was the fact that Cody Rhodes uses complex language.

“Words that most common folk, especially wrestling marks or the good fans, just won’t understand,” Ryback said. These three points made by Russo make the ex-WWE star believe that Rhodes is the real heel in this story and not The Rock. Prior to stating these points, The Big Guy called Russo a very intelligent man. It is clear that Ryback loves Russo. However, Vince Russo has not been a fan of some aspects of the Cody Rhodes arc. What do you make of the intriguing perspective offered by Vince Russo and Ryback about Rhodes’ story?

READ MORE: “Carny Succubus”: Cody Rhodes Accused of Stealing Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Promo Material From Segment Against Chris Jericho