#WeWantDrew Trends After Cody Rhodes Wins Third WWE Championship

From #WeWantCody to #WeWantDrew

By winning the 2024 Royal Rumble, Rhodes had earned the in-storyline right to challenge Reigns at WrestleMania. Technically, he could have pursued the World Heavyweight Championship instead—but that was never the story.

Cody wasn’t just finishing his own story; he was finishing Dusty’s. The historic WWE Championship—whose lineage dates back to Buddy Rogers in 1963—is the title that always eluded Dusty Rhodes. Even in the shorter term, Cody had already come up short against Reigns at WrestleMania 39.

So when it appeared that WWE would remove Rhodes from that opportunity in favor of a blockbuster match between Reigns and Rock, fans revolted. Branded “Cody crybabies” by critics, we were outraged that Rhodes’ moment might be sacrificed for a marquee spectacle.

The hashtag #WeWantCody exploded online and echoed through arenas across the country until WWE could no longer ignore it. Eventually, the company pivoted, and the main event of WrestleMania 40 was changed.

I was there that night in Philadelphia when Cody finally finished his story. As a 30-year wrestling fan who has attended dozens of live events, it remains the greatest moment I’ve ever witnessed in person.

Now, two years later, we find ourselves in a very different moment.

A new hashtag has taken over social media—and this one isn’t exactly flattering toward Rhodes. #WeWantDrew began trending after Friday night’s episode of WWE SmackDown, when Cody Rhodes recaptured the Undisputed WWE Championship to begin his third reign.

A sizable portion of fans believe Drew McIntyre has been pushed out of a WrestleMania main event in a way that feels eerily similar to what happened to Cody in 2024—before fan pressure forced WWE to change course.

Will #WeWantDrew Change the Main Event?

I don’t expect it to.

If anything, WWE could respond by inserting Drew into the match and turning it into a Triple Threat. But that would fundamentally alter the dynamic of what many fans still see as a highly anticipated singles showdown between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.

That’s where the tension lies.

Some fans are clearly experiencing Cody fatigue. At the same time, many still want to see Rhodes vs. Orton on the biggest stage.

When WrestleMania arrives in Las Vegas, the live crowd may make their feelings known. If the audience rallies behind Orton, WWE’s creative team needs to be prepared for the possibility that Rhodes receives a far more hostile reaction than expected—and to pivot his presentation accordingly.

Assuming that's the plan, Cody's newfound heat could be the runway for a generational heel run.