Can Cody Rhodes turn heel like John Cena after WrestleMania loss? Former WWE writer Vince Russo reveals

Cody Rhodes’ journey at WrestleMania 41 ended in heartbreak as the 'American Nightmare' fell short in the Night 2 main event against John Cena. Battling for the Undisputed WWE Championship, Rhodes faced defeat after Travis Scott’s interference, which paved the way for Cena’s record-breaking 17th world title win.

In the aftermath of this crushing loss, speculation has swirled around the possibility of Cody Rhodes turning heel. However, former WWE writer Vince Russo believes it’s too soon for such a drastic character shift.

Vince Russo Urges WWE to Hold Off on Cody Rhodes' Heel Turn

Speaking on the "Coach and Bro Show," Vince Russo emphasized that a heel turn for Rhodes would be premature given the current WWE landscape — especially considering John Cena’s own recent turn.

"You can't turn him heel now, coming right off of the John Cena heel turn. You can't. You would need some space in between, Blake, at least six months to a year. You could not do it now because then the Cena heel turn will mean nothing," Russo explained.

According to Russo, WWE should allow Cena's heel storyline to settle before introducing another major shift, suggesting that waiting six months to a year would preserve the significance of Cena’s character evolution.

Sam Roberts Shares His Thoughts on Cody Rhodes' Next Steps

Adding to the discussion, wrestling analyst Sam Roberts shared his perspective on Cody's path forward after his WrestleMania defeat. Appearing on the "Notsam Wrestling" podcast, Roberts proposed that Rhodes should consider taking a hiatus to recalibrate his character.

"It's been acknowledged on television by John Cena that he was booed. Cody has to address that. Cody can't turn into the modern John Cena that is being booed by half the audience, and it's okay because it was never okay when it happened to John Cena. It wasn't okay. It was a tough time for a lot of us. But I think Cody's going to be able to do that," Roberts stated.

Roberts highlighted how Rhodes had to consider the fans' reactions from now on, cautioning him not to fall into the same divisive role Cena played in his heyday.

A heel turn for Cena could have a ripple effect on the current landscape of WWE

Several reports previously stated that WWE had teased a Cody Rhodes heel turn around Elimination Chamber 2025. But, in a last-minute booking decision, John Cena became the one to turn heel, thus reversing the grain of the main event story against WrestleMania 41.

With Rhodes now in a somewhat precarious position, many in the wrestling world agree that the key is to keep WWE storytelling effective while Cena's major departure from character is still fresh in the minds of others.

As Rhodes regroups from his WrestleMania upset, fans are already keen on seeing how WWE will manoeuvre through the next chapter in his journey-whether through redemption, reinvention, or perhaps even a perfectly timed heel turn.