Cody Rhodes Fuels the Rumors of his Heel Turn with a Cryptic Post

For the unversed, Rhodes previously used the same “Don’t Flinch” phrase right before WrestleMania 40 when he won the 2024 Royal Rumble Match. Although he seemed to step aside for The Rock to face Roman Reigns in the main event, creative plans changed, which led to Rhodes ending Reigns’ 1316-day reign as champion at ‘The Show of Shows’.

In what could be a signal of a new venture outside of WWE, Rhodes has reportedly been cast to play ‘Guile’ in the live-action reboot of the ‘Street Fighter’ franchise. The film also includes Reigns taking up the role of Akuma. So, the next chapter could be completely unrelated to Rhodes’ in-ring shenanigans and be about his Hollywood future.

However, a few months ago on SmackDown, ‘The American Nightmare’ revealed that the offer to become a corporate champion for The Rock was still on the table. Additionally, in his recent promos, Rhodes admitted that while he once hesitated to use any means necessary to become champion, he no longer feels the same way. These are strong indicators that WWE could be setting the stage for a heel turn soon.

Cody Rhodes revealed his new nickname ahead of SummerSlam 2025

Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton to become the 2025 King of the Ring at Night of Champions, adding yet another major accolade to his impressive resume. However, following his victory and subsequent SmackDown appearance, Rhodes has introduced a new moniker for himself ahead of his highly anticipated clash with John Cena at SummerSlam.

Taking to X, Rhodes shared a few photos of himself wearing the King of the Ring crown from SmackDown. What caught fans’ attention, however, was the caption that read, “Nightmare King.” Since then, the post has gone viral, with fans across social media referring to Cody by this new name. This has sparked speculation that WWE may officially adopt the moniker for Rhodes in the coming weeks.

If WWE is planning a heel turn for ‘The American Nightmare’, the “Nightmare King” nickname could be a perfect addition to his evolving character. The company could easily capitalize on it for merchandising and other branding opportunities moving forward. That said, it remains to be seen whether WWE will begin using the nickname more frequently on television.

How Cody Rhodes’ heel turn could create a problem for WWE?

Cody Rhodes is currently WWE’s top baby face, having carried the company as a true hero since his return in 2022. ‘The Prodigal Son’ has made such a significant impact that no other star matches his level of fan appeal at the moment. Therefore, if he does turn heel, WWE could face a major challenge in finding someone to step up as the next big babyface.

Currently, CM Punk and Roman Reigns are the other two major faces in WWE. However, ‘The Best in the World’ is past his prime and nearing the end of his career. Meanwhile, ‘The Tribal Chief’ has a limited number of appearances, making him a half-baked option to replace Rhodes as the company’s top baby face.

As a result, if the former Undisputed WWE Champion turns heel, potentially at SummerSlam, then WWE will need to find his replacement sooner rather than later. That said, only time will tell who will rise as the next big star in the company after ‘The American Nightmare’.