I’m not sure why I anticipated more from Cody Rhodes’ sit-down interview with Michael Cole tonight. Maybe it was because Bully Ray convinced me this was exactly what Rhodes needed to get back on track and reconnect with fans. Or maybe I half-expected Randy Orton to show up unexpectedly, leading to a dramatic backstage confrontation. Whatever my expectations were, this interview certainly missed the mark and ended up feeling very underwhelming.
Cole kicked things off more with a statement than a question, pointing out that Rhodes seems hesitant to “pull the trigger” on those he’s close to. Rhodes responded by saying he wouldn’t make excuses and expressed pride in being “QB1.” Although he no longer has the same support system as he did at WrestleMania 40, he reminded viewers that WWE is a big company with plenty of allies.
During the promo, Rhodes admitted to some things that didn’t really resonate with me—like acknowledging he should have expected betrayal since that comes with being champion. The main takeaway was Rhodes dismissing all the talk about his morals and insisting he doesn’t need to “go down a darker path,” emphasizing that he’s succeeded by staying true to who he’s been since his return at WrestleMania 38. This felt like WWE blatantly letting fans know Rhodes won’t be turning heel anytime soon, despite all the speculation on social media.
He did hint that he would take a different approach with Orton this time, promising not to repeat the mistake of not punting Orton in the head at Sunday Night’s Main Event. Rhodes certainly knows how to talk, but I didn’t buy his words here. We’ve all seen him more intense and passionate before, so this lacked the emotional impact it needed.
To add to the frustration, WWE released a social media clip after “SmackDown” where Rhodes told Cole, off-camera, that he was “going to kick Orton’s f** head off.” Although Cole referenced this during commentary, I’m tired of WWE advancing storylines on platforms like X rather than on TV.
None of this worked for me tonight—from the near-confirmation that Rhodes isn’t going heel anytime soon to the post-show clip where he still lacked intensity or menace. Presumably, they’ll have another match at Money in the Bank, meaning there’s a few more weeks of buildup. Hopefully, that build-up is a lot more exciting than this.
Written by Daisy Ruth
Fan Take: For wrestling fans, Cody Rhodes’ interview is a crucial moment in shaping his character’s future and the larger storyline with Randy Orton. If WWE doesn’t inject more passion and unpredictability into these segments, it could sap the energy from one of the company’s top feuds and ultimately affect fan engagement in upcoming pay-per-views.
Source: www.wrestlinginc.com
