All superstars who have turned heel on Cody Rhodes since his WWE return in 2022
(Courtesy : Getty)
The American Nightmare has suffered some brutal betrayals.
‘The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes has climbed to the top of the mountain since his return to WWE in 2022. Rhodes not only managed to finish the story and capture the World title, defeating Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40, but also became the face of the company.
However, Cody’s rise back to the main-event scene has also made him a prime target for betrayal, with several superstars turning heel against him to ignite major rivalries. From shocking betrayals to calculated attacks, these moments have played a key role in major storylines. Here we will take a look at these betrayals and the story behind them.
Brock Lesnar – April 3, 2023
During the April 3, 2023, episode of Monday Night Raw, Cody teamed up with Brock Lesnar to take on Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa. However, before the match could even begin, Lesnar attacked his own tag partner, brutalizing Cody with vicious F5s and German Suplexes.
Also Read: Top five reasons why Randy Orton turned heel on Cody Rhodes on WWE SmackDown
The Rock – March 25, 2024
In the lead-up to WrestleMania, The Rock also joined this list and launched a vicious attack on Rhodes, leaving him bloodied in the parking lot. The attack happened after The Rock aligned himself with The Bloodline and supported Roman Reigns, who was defending the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Cody at WrestleMania.
AJ Styles – May 31, 2024
After losing the title match at Backlash against Cody, AJ Styles announced his retirement on the May 31, 2024, edition of SmackDown. Cody came out to say his final goodbyes; however, Styles flipped the switch, attacking Cody out of nowhere and reigniting the feud, this time with him being a heel. The feud led to an I Quit match at the King and Queen of the Ring 2024, where Cody retained.
Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens was one of the first major names who, despite being a good friend of Cody, turned on him after Bad Blood 2024. The initial turn began after Owens took issue with Cody teaming up with Roman Reigns, after all the OTC had put Owens through. The attack in the parking lot after Bad Blood led to a feud that saw both former friends engage in a brutal back-and-forth, including multiple matches.
John Cena – Elimination Chamber 2025
During his retirement tour in 2025, John Cena
Randy Orton – March 13, 2026
The latest addition to the list is someone many would consider one of Cody Rhodes’ closest allies: Randy Orton. Ahead of their scheduled clash for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania, Orton turned on Cody Rhodes following a contract signing on the March 14 episode of WWE SmackDown.
Orton launched a vicious assault on Rhodes, seemingly driven by the complicated situation created after Cody defeated Drew McIntyre to capture the title. Instead of facing someone he openly despised in McIntyre, Orton now found himself forced to battle his friend. The emotional conflict ultimately pushed “The Viper” to strike first, marking a shocking betrayal
When did Cody Rhodes return to WWE?
Cody made his WWE return at WrestleMania 38 in April 2022, where he faced Seth Rollins in his comeback match.
Which superstars have turned heel on Cody Rhodes since his return?
Several superstars have betrayed or attacked Rhodes, including major names such as AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, Brock Lesnar, The Rock, and Randy Orton.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.