WWE Hall of Famer Diamond Dallas Page has publicly advocated for a heel turn for Cody Rhodes, arguing that such a move could unlock a new career peak for The American Nightmare. Page, speaking on a recent TMZ interview, expressed his desire to see Rhodes embrace a villainous character, drawing a parallel to Hulk Hogan’s career resurgence with the nWo. The suggestion comes as Rhodes continues to be one of WWE's most popular babyfaces, a status Page believes could be used strategically to create a major narrative shift.
The timing of this discussion follows Rhodes’ victory over Randy Orton in a Last Man Standing match at WWE Crown Jewel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This win solidifies Rhodes’ position as a top-tier talent, but Page’s analysis suggests WWE is sitting on untapped potential. Page recalled Rhodes’ history of fan interaction, which he believes ultimately backfired. “He was really that guy. He stayed after. The first time I ever saw him do it was in AEW, after the show. That place sold out in 33 minutes with 11,000 people. The energy was incredible, and afterwards he brought everybody out,” Page said, highlighting how Rhodes’ relentless goodwill tour may have led to fan fatigue, a key factor in Page’s pitch for a character change.
Merchandise Shifts and Career Longevity for Rhodes
- Merchandise Shift: A heel turn for Rhodes could trigger a realignment in WWE’s merchandise portfolio, with a potential surge in “heel” apparel and a decline in his current babyface merchandise lines.
- Character Longevity: The move could extend Rhodes’ main event shelf life, as heel turns often provide a fresh narrative path for stars approaching the later stages of their careers.
The Psychology of the Turn: Fan Fatigue and the Hogan Precedent
While this behavior endeared Rhodes to fans initially, Page contends it became unsustainable. “Cody kept doing that the whole time. He would sign everything, but it wasn’t sustainable, and after a while fans turned,” Page stated. This mirrors the situation Hulk Hogan found himself in, where his heroic persona had grown stale. The subsequent formation of the nWo and Hogan’s heel turn revitalized his career, making him hotter than ever. Page sees a direct parallel, suggesting Rhodes’ already elite microphone skills would make a heel character not just viable, but compelling. “I’d love to see him turn heel. I would have liked to see him turn at the peak and take that next run,” Page emphasized.
WWE’s Strategic Calculus: The Rhodes Asset
Despite Page’s persuasive pitch, the decision rests with WWE’s front office, which must weigh the immense popularity Rhodes currently enjoys. Hosts on the TMZ show suggested Rhodes already “looks the part of a villain” due to his expensive suits and polished presentation. However, they questioned the business logic of changing a character who remains a major draw, particularly with younger demographics. Page himself seemed to acknowledge this hesitation, trailing off when pressed on a timeline. “I don’t think it’ll happen until he’s not, [laughter] you know, like they’re Yeah,” he said, implying the turn might only be considered when Rhodes’ popularity inevitably wanes.
Adding a layer of complexity is WWE’s current strategy of blurring traditional babyface/heel lines, a tactic amplified by the Netflix series WWE Unreal. Page addressed this, noting that while some in the business dislike exposing the personalities behind the characters, he sees value in it. “I kind of like it because it takes characters that you might not see like who are these people behind the scenes and it’s kind of like you know it’s when the NFL will do a story on somebody you know or baseball or any major sports team you know they’ll do you know like up close and personal well you get to see that,” Page said. This modern approach makes a definitive heel turn a more nuanced proposition than in the past.
From Razor Ramon to the Performance Center: Page’s Broader WWE Vision
Beyond the Rhodes situation, Page’s recent comments reveal a wider vision for his involvement with WWE. He revealed he has spoken with Triple H and other officials about implementing DDP Yoga at the WWE Performance Center. “I talk to Triple H, Nick and Chris, and I said, here’s what I want. Here’s what I’d like to do. I want to go down and do it three times a year because it will help the guys who really want to put the work in. DDP Yoga, more than anything, is injury prevention,” Page explained.
Page also revisited his history of reinventing talent, telling the story of how he helped create the Razor Ramon character for Scott Hall in 1991. He detailed the meticulous process: changing Hall’s hair color to jet black, altering his facial hair, and revamping his wardrobe. “When he walked into that arena with the long trench coat, round black sunglasses, his hair pulled back in a ponytail, no mustache and just the five o’clock shadow, nobody recognized him,” Page recalled.
The Business of Character: A High-Stakes Gamble
The question for WWE is whether the potential reward of a new, edgier Rhodes justifies the risk of alienating his current fanbase.
Page’s comments also touch on the broader corporate history of wrestling, specifically why WCW collapsed. He placed the blame squarely on the parent company, Warner Bros., which he claims “hated wrestling.” “You realize that the actual company, meaning Turner, not so much Turner as Warner Bros., hated wrestling. Hated it. They were paying so much money to have WCW, and it was finally turning ratings occasionally, but they hated being associated with it,” Page stated. Whether they decide to fully commit to a heel turn for their biggest star is still unknown, but the debate has officially been opened by one of the industry's most respected minds.
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