WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi Fatu suggests that Cody Rhodes' time as a popular babyface character may be nearing an end. He advocates for a potential heel turn to refresh Rhodes' storyline amid fan interest. This comes as WWE approaches major events like the Royal Rumble in early 2026.
Cody Rhodes has maintained a babyface role since returning to WWE, much like his tenure in AEW where fans similarly pushed for a villainous shift. Rhodes himself has previously addressed the idea, indicating no immediate plans to change. However, Rikishi Fatu, speaking on his "Off The Top" podcast, argues that the arc has likely reached its limit.
"I think Cody's [time as a] babyface has probably ran it's course," Rikishi stated. He believes a heel turn could benefit Rhodes' career and WWE's narrative direction, describing it as "a good time for – business-wise and for the brand of Cody Rhodes – to kind of maybe take a ride on the wild side."
Rikishi commended Rhodes' wrestling skills and emphasized the need for WWE creative to craft a compelling transition that engages audiences. He referenced the recent introduction of Jacob Fatu as a intended monster heel, only for fans to embrace him as a top babyface. "They brought Jacob [Fatu] in to obviously be a heel, like a monster heel, and the fans just slowly kind of switched Jacob to this mega-top babyface," Rikishi noted. He proposed that swapping roles between Rhodes and Fatu could create an intriguing dynamic.
With the calendar turning to January 2026 and the Royal Rumble on the horizon, Rikishi sees the event as a pivotal moment. "It's the beginning of 2026, it's January, the Royal Rumble is around the corner, we have no idea what's going to play out in the Royal Rumble, so I mean, once we see that? It can almost let you know what the plans are going to be for a certain talent moving into WrestleMania," he added. This speculation highlights ongoing discussions about character evolution in WWE as it builds toward its flagship show.
