Cody Rhodes’ dedication to being a role model for young fans resulted in the ‘American Nightmare’ never turning heel in AEW.
Despite a hostile response from fans, and teasing a turn on several occasions, Rhodes never embraced his heel side ahead of his exit from AEW on February 15, 2022.
Speaking on a recent episode of his “ARN” podcast, Arn Anderson spoke at length at Rhodes’ decision to never turn heel. He said,
“Cody has such a strong need or want to do the right thing, to be a role model; he wants to do something the kids can look up to … I tried to explain to him, ‘Cody, I get that you want to do the right thing, you want to be a babyface, you want to be a positive force for kids.’Â
“I don’t give two s–ts about being a role model. If a guy thumps me in the nose, I’m gonna head butt him right between the eye. I believe in one-upmanship.”
Despite Rhodes never officially turning heel, Cody has claimed that he was a heel in AEW, and his reluctance to fully turn heel was part of his antagonizing of the fans.
Rhodes returned to WWE at WrestleMania 38 in April 2022 and has been a beloved babyface with the fans ever since.
