The Cody Rhodes Story Thread (IT'S OVER)

[fw91]

Also, I know this sounds crazy, but with Punk out, anyone think Cody somehow coerces his way into challenging for both belts at mania? No more consolation prize, everything is unified. Like Cody vs Seth night 1, winner faces Roman night 2?

[Zone Was Wrong]

Jan 30, 2024 7:49:33 GMT -5 fw91 said:

Also, I know this sounds crazy, but with Punk out, anyone think Cody somehow coerces his way into challenging for both belts at mania? No more consolation prize, everything is unified. Like Cody vs Seth night 1, winner faces Roman night 2?

We JUST separated the titles again though. I say try and keep continuity for longer than a year. Also, do we really trust WWE not to have absentee world champs again?

[thechase]

Jan 30, 2024 7:39:52 GMT -5 Jedi-El of Tomorrow said:

Jan 30, 2024 6:35:48 GMT -5 thechase said:

Yeah, I see Cody having a reign like Dusty...over in days if not weeks, and then he moves on, still over and a main event guy, but more suited as a chaser than champion. 

I figured he would hold it till Bash in Berlin, when Gunther took it from him. I just figured that was the natural progression in the Cody vs Gunther story they've set up the past 2 Rumbles. But with Punk's injury, that's up in the air. Do they have Gunther take Seth's title earlier than that?

Gunther's travel issues are what hold up the ideal scenario of just mowing through Rollins in Perth and dropping it to Cody at 'Mania, then getting the belt back in  Berlin.

[The Rick Jericho]

Surprised to wake up this morning and see the title thread change completely!

[Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story]

Jan 30, 2024 8:21:20 GMT -5 The Rick Jericho said:

Surprised to wake up this morning and see the title thread change completely!

Bitchalla isn’t just handed out, it’s earned.

[polarbearpete]

Jan 30, 2024 0:42:17 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

Jan 30, 2024 0:04:17 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

The promos themselves were very good

Don't agree at all, hated everything about it. Cody looks dumb, Seth tried to gas up a world title that is a consolation prize and no one is going to convince the at large world that it isn't, it was only created because Roman has a stranglehold on the OTHER TWO WORLD TITLES. This being presented as a legitimate debate is laughable, and honestly one of Seth's more grating promos I've had to listen to lately.

I GET what they're trying to do, I think the execution is shit.

The introduction of it might have left a lot to be desired, but the Raw world title already holds a lot of importance among the WWE audience. The narrative that everyone sees the title as a joke is already disproven. Seth and the booking and presentation has raised that title to a prominent spot already.

It’s really not dissimilar to when Brock took the “undisputed title” to Smackdown in 2002 and Triple H was just handed a new world title for Raw (so he didn’t even earn it like Seth did). That world title was main eventing PPVs that year and by 2004, that created title was main eventing Wrestlemania.

[xxshoyuweeniexx]

I get Seth and Cody trying to make the best of it, but it came off kinda desperate to me.

Not their fault WWE wanted to sell 1000 whatever day t-shirts and put the title with the company’s entire title history I know for a fact they don’t want to lose and combined it with their fruit rollup belt that has the actual 1000 whatever day reign they’re touting. I can’t wait until Cody retires that thing and we can just call it the WWE title again and avoid all this crap..

Until they merge the titles again in like, 5 years of course.

[Tom Turkey]

Jan 30, 2024 8:15:13 GMT -5 thechase said:

Jan 30, 2024 7:39:52 GMT -5 Jedi-El of Tomorrow said:

I figured he would hold it till Bash in Berlin, when Gunther took it from him. I just figured that was the natural progression in the Cody vs Gunther story they've set up the past 2 Rumbles. But with Punk's injury, that's up in the air. Do they have Gunther take Seth's title earlier than that?

Gunther's travel issues are what hold up the ideal scenario of just mowing through Rollins in Perth and dropping it to Cody at 'Mania, then getting the belt back in  Berlin.

Could happen with EC being framed around Cody’s decision then do something with Gunther winning a tourney or match after the PPV.

[BayleyTiffyCodyCenaJudyHopps]

It was probably better for Cody not to give Seth a hard “NO”, it would have made him look too heelish. The Seth promo was really just to hype his Mania match while they figure out who he’s gonna face.

Also, and I badly with this was under different circumstances, but Triple H and TKO can’t afford to not put on a crowd-pleasing Mania at this time. They’ve whipped up a nice casual audience lather right now and their creative is the one thing helping them through an *extremely* dark PR period at the moment. WWE knows they need to try and convert as much of this new crowd into devoted and consistent viewership as they can. I don’t see them trying to get too “cute” and dragging these angles out much longer without some interesting shifts. They’re probably in a very “risk adverse” mentality during this crisis.

[Tom Turkey]

Jan 30, 2024 12:02:44 GMT -5 BayleyTiffyCodyCenaJudyHopps said:

It was probably better for Cody not to give Seth a hard “NO”, it would have made him look too heelish. The Seth promo was really just to hype his Mania match while they figure out who he’s gonna face.

Also, and I badly with this was under different circumstances, but Triple H and TKO can’t afford to not put on a crowd-pleasing Mania at this time. They’ve whipped up a nice casual audience lather right now and their creative is the one thing helping them through an *extremely* dark PR period at the moment. WWE knows they need to try and convert as much of this new crowd into devoted and consistent viewership as they can. I don’t see them trying to get too “cute” and dragging these angles out much longer without some interesting shifts. They’re probably in a very “risk adverse” mentality during this crisis.

I don’t see this Mania ending with heel Roman standing tall at all. WMXL ending with Cody celebrating his big title win (The Rock raising his hand optional) would fit this mold greatly.

[Fade]

Jan 30, 2024 12:02:44 GMT -5 BayleyTiffyCodyCenaJudyHopps said:

It was probably better for Cody not to give Seth a hard “NO”, it would have made him look too heelish. The Seth promo was really just to hype his Mania match while they figure out who he’s gonna face.

Also, and I badly with this was under different circumstances, but Triple H and TKO can’t afford to not put on a crowd-pleasing Mania at this time. They’ve whipped up a nice casual audience lather right now and their creative is the one thing helping them through an *extremely* dark PR period at the moment. WWE knows they need to try and convert as much of this new crowd into devoted and consistent viewership as they can. I don’t see them trying to get too “cute” and dragging these angles out much longer without some interesting shifts. They’re probably in a very “risk adverse” mentality during this crisis.

I’m betting Roman does something heelish AF or Heyman says something vile to “clinch” the decision for Cody.

[BRV]

Jan 30, 2024 12:39:26 GMT -5 Corre.222 said:

I'm getting the sense that Seth vs Cody is happening, and Roman vs Rock, to fill the dual purpose of Cody just becoming champion, Roman extending his reign past Hogan, putting Rock vs Roman on the grandest stage, and making the most of the situation with opponents for Seth & Cody with injuries out.

This was why they subtly teased this.

I fully expect this to happen.

Judging by the reaction it got on social media and live in Tampa - with the audience chanting "NO! NO! NO!" - a hypothetical Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins championship match at WrestleMania would have the crowd turn on it like Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 34.

I know we're predisposed to always assume the worst when it comes to WWE booking, but they won't be so stupid as to have Cody Rhodes, whose entire storyline has been built around "Finishing the Story" by winning the championship his father never won and dethroning Roman Reigns' 1,000-day reign, decide at the eleventh hour, "You know, I'm fine going for the consolation title."

[HMARK Center]

Jan 30, 2024 13:16:16 GMT -5 BRV said:

Jan 30, 2024 12:39:26 GMT -5 Corre.222 said:

I'm getting the sense that Seth vs Cody is happening, and Roman vs Rock, to fill the dual purpose of Cody just becoming champion, Roman extending his reign past Hogan, putting Rock vs Roman on the grandest stage, and making the most of the situation with opponents for Seth & Cody with injuries out.

This was why they subtly teased this.

I fully expect this to happen.

Judging by the reaction it got on social media and live in Tampa - with the audience chanting "NO! NO! NO!" - a hypothetical Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins championship match at WrestleMania would have the crowd turn on it like Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 34.

I know we're predisposed to always assume the worst when it comes to WWE booking, but they won't be so stupid as to have Cody Rhodes, whose entire storyline has been built around "Finishing the Story" by winning the championship his father never won and dethroning Roman Reigns' 1,000-day reign, decide at the eleventh hour, "You know, I'm fine going for the consolation title."

Yeah, said it before, but when push comes to shove the one thing WWE, even when Vince was at his worst, would almost always give way on was ensuring that there wouldn't be a total crowd revolt during Wrestlemania, hence stuff like getting Danielson into the main event and stuff like that.

[chronocross]

No way Cody vs. Seth happens at Mania especially with the crowd so against it.

We got about 10 weeks before Wrestlemania and they got to kill some time with the whole "Will he or won't he?" for Cody.

They have to put some swerves on the road to WM, it will still be Cody vs. Roman 2.

[polarbearpete]

Jan 30, 2024 13:23:58 GMT -5 chronocross said:

No way Cody vs. Seth happens at Mania especially with the crowd so against it.

We got about 10 weeks before Wrestlemania and they got to kill some time with the whole "Will he or won't he?" for Cody.

They have to put some swerves on the road to WM, it will still be Cody vs. Roman 2.

I also think they were killing time to make a decision on the world title contender at Mania given Punk’s injury. If not for the injury, I’m pretty sure they would’ve announced an Elimination Chamber match last night with Punk, Drew, Sami being three of the competitors.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Jan 30, 2024 9:08:38 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

Jan 30, 2024 0:42:17 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

Don't agree at all, hated everything about it. Cody looks dumb, Seth tried to gas up a world title that is a consolation prize and no one is going to convince the at large world that it isn't, it was only created because Roman has a stranglehold on the OTHER TWO WORLD TITLES. This being presented as a legitimate debate is laughable, and honestly one of Seth's more grating promos I've had to listen to lately.

I GET what they're trying to do, I think the execution is shit.

The introduction of it might have left a lot to be desired, but the Raw world title already holds a lot of importance among the WWE audience. The narrative that everyone sees the title as a joke is already disproven. Seth and the booking and presentation has raised that title to a prominent spot already.

It’s really not dissimilar to when Brock took the “undisputed title” to Smackdown in 2002 and Triple H was just handed a new world title for Raw (so he didn’t even earn it like Seth did). That world title was main eventing PPVs that year and by 2004, that created title was main eventing Wrestlemania.

He still tried to compare it to Roman and that title, and that is not comparable, not right now, and maybe not ever. It's not the same belt, and the storyline with Cody and Roman supersedes everything Seth was trying to gas up. "We don't need Roman" is bullshit, Cody needs to beat him at this point or he's never going to hear the end of the Bitchalla allegations.

They've done their damndest to make this title look like it matters but the fact of the matter is it's the third world title because Roman wouldn't lose for three years, that's what it is, they can put a fresh coat of paint on it all they want, for me personally, all it does is breed apathy, and it's ridiculous at this point and until Roman drops the belts especially, that it's a debate over who to choose.

The crowd vehemently rejected Seth's idea at the onset of the promo for a reason.

[polarbearpete]

Jan 30, 2024 16:21:47 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

Jan 30, 2024 9:08:38 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

The introduction of it might have left a lot to be desired, but the Raw world title already holds a lot of importance among the WWE audience. The narrative that everyone sees the title as a joke is already disproven. Seth and the booking and presentation has raised that title to a prominent spot already.

It’s really not dissimilar to when Brock took the “undisputed title” to Smackdown in 2002 and Triple H was just handed a new world title for Raw (so he didn’t even earn it like Seth did). That world title was main eventing PPVs that year and by 2004, that created title was main eventing Wrestlemania.

He still tried to compare it to Roman and that title, and that is not comparable, not right now, and maybe not ever. It's not the same belt, and the storyline with Cody and Roman supersedes everything Seth was trying to gas up. "We don't need Roman" is bullshit, Cody needs to beat him at this point or he's never going to hear the end of the Bitchalla allegations.

They've done their damndest to make this title look like it matters but the fact of the matter is it's the third world title because Roman wouldn't lose for three years, that's what it is, they can put a fresh coat of paint on it all they want, for me personally, all it does is breed apathy, and it's ridiculous at this point and until Roman drops the belts especially, that it's a debate over who to choose.

The crowd vehemently rejected Seth's idea at the onset of the promo for a reason.

The crowd rejected the idea at the start because they have invested in Cody’s story being tied to the WWE Title and to Roman Reigns, not because of the legitimacy of Seth’s title. If Punk had won the Rumble and cut the same promo the crowd wouldn’t have been sour on Seth’s idea of Punk challenging Seth.

And that’s fine if you have personal apathy about it. Tastes are subjective and your mileage may vary. I was pushing back on the idea that the audience “at large” as you said doesn’t accept it as a legitimate world title. Roman’s is largely seen as one world title at this point too and this is the second (just like Brock’s undisputed title in 2002 was really seen as one world title and Triple H’s Raw as the second).

[Denny Zen is Cooking™]

Jan 30, 2024 16:44:58 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

Jan 30, 2024 16:21:47 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

He still tried to compare it to Roman and that title, and that is not comparable, not right now, and maybe not ever. It's not the same belt, and the storyline with Cody and Roman supersedes everything Seth was trying to gas up. "We don't need Roman" is bullshit, Cody needs to beat him at this point or he's never going to hear the end of the Bitchalla allegations.

They've done their damndest to make this title look like it matters but the fact of the matter is it's the third world title because Roman wouldn't lose for three years, that's what it is, they can put a fresh coat of paint on it all they want, for me personally, all it does is breed apathy, and it's ridiculous at this point and until Roman drops the belts especially, that it's a debate over who to choose.

The crowd vehemently rejected Seth's idea at the onset of the promo for a reason.

The crowd rejected the idea at the start because they have invested in Cody’s story being tied to the WWE Title and to Roman Reigns, not because of the legitimacy of Seth’s title. If Punk had won the Rumble and cut the same promo the crowd wouldn’t have been sour on Seth’s idea of Punk challenging Seth.

And that’s fine if you have personal apathy about it. Tastes are subjective and your mileage may vary. I was pushing back on the idea that the audience “at large” as you said doesn’t accept it as a legitimate world title. Roman’s is largely seen as one world title at this point too and this is the second (just like Brock’s undisputed title in 2002 was really seen as one world title and Triple H’s Raw as the second).

I think it kind of depends on what we're defining at "legitimate world title," personally. There's no doubt that the WHC has proven be a valid prize in WWE, but there's also really no doubt that, if you were to poll WWE fans on who the "top champion" in WWE is, it would come back close to 100% Reigns. The WHC is, very clearly, not the top prize in WWE. Historically, I think that's what's required to be viewed as a legitimate "world title." To me, the current WHC fills the same role as the IC title did during the golden age. It was a prestigious and hotly contested championship that often had awesome feuds and matches associated with it, but it was not viewed by anyone as even approaching the same level as the WWF Championship. 

[Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story]

Jan 30, 2024 16:55:36 GMT -5 Denny Zen is Cooking™ said:

Jan 30, 2024 16:44:58 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

The crowd rejected the idea at the start because they have invested in Cody’s story being tied to the WWE Title and to Roman Reigns, not because of the legitimacy of Seth’s title. If Punk had won the Rumble and cut the same promo the crowd wouldn’t have been sour on Seth’s idea of Punk challenging Seth.

And that’s fine if you have personal apathy about it. Tastes are subjective and your mileage may vary. I was pushing back on the idea that the audience “at large” as you said doesn’t accept it as a legitimate world title. Roman’s is largely seen as one world title at this point too and this is the second (just like Brock’s undisputed title in 2002 was really seen as one world title and Triple H’s Raw as the second).

I think it kind of depends on what we're defining at "legitimate world title," personally. There's no doubt that the WHC has proven be a valid prize in WWE, but there's also really no doubt that, if you were to poll WWE fans on who the "top champion" in WWE is, it would come back close to 100% Reigns. The WHC is, very clearly, not the top prize in WWE. Historically, I think that's what's required to be viewed as a legitimate "world title." To me, the current WHC fills the same role as the IC title did during the golden age. It was a prestigious and hotly contested championship that often had awesome feuds and matches associated with it, but it was not viewed by anyone as even approaching the same level as the WWF Championship. 

I think in terms of how the company's presenting its men's singles titles right now, it's:

WWE Universal Title: A+ Tier
WWE World Heavyweight Title: A Tier
Intercontinental Title: B+ Tier (but big stars still come challenge for it)
US Title: B Tier (inching towards B+)

I don't think it's terrible that Seth was lobbying Cody to face him nor do I think it's so out of character that Cody would at least consider it. They're two babyfaces that are growing to respect each other. It's not going to happen and it's clearly going to be Roman/Cody, but Cody's a good enough guy on the microphone that he's going to put Seth's title over while acknowledging he's going for Roman's.

[Tom Turkey]

Jan 30, 2024 16:44:58 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

Jan 30, 2024 16:21:47 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

He still tried to compare it to Roman and that title, and that is not comparable, not right now, and maybe not ever. It's not the same belt, and the storyline with Cody and Roman supersedes everything Seth was trying to gas up. "We don't need Roman" is bullshit, Cody needs to beat him at this point or he's never going to hear the end of the Bitchalla allegations.

They've done their damndest to make this title look like it matters but the fact of the matter is it's the third world title because Roman wouldn't lose for three years, that's what it is, they can put a fresh coat of paint on it all they want, for me personally, all it does is breed apathy, and it's ridiculous at this point and until Roman drops the belts especially, that it's a debate over who to choose.

The crowd vehemently rejected Seth's idea at the onset of the promo for a reason.

The crowd rejected the idea at the start because they have invested in Cody’s story being tied to the WWE Title and to Roman Reigns, not because of the legitimacy of Seth’s title. If Punk had won the Rumble and cut the same promo the crowd wouldn’t have been sour on Seth’s idea of Punk challenging Seth.

And that’s fine if you have personal apathy about it. Tastes are subjective and your mileage may vary. I was pushing back on the idea that the audience “at large” as you said doesn’t accept it as a legitimate world title. Roman’s is largely seen as one world title at this point too and this is the second (just like Brock’s undisputed title in 2002 was really seen as one world title and Triple H’s Raw as the second).

Pretty much this.

The crowd knows that Cody's story isn't settling for a match with Rollins, it's going after the guy he lost to after getting essentially cheated out of a win. It's finding out whether he can avenge that injustice.