Since returning to WWE at WrestleMania 38 in 2022, Cody Rhodes has been side by side with Seth Rollins. They squared off in Rhodes’ highly anticipated return match, and they had the famous torn pec match inside Hell in a Cell. While Rhodes recovered from the injury, Rollins ascended back to a top babyface, but upon return, the American Nightmare joined him at the forefront of weekly programming.
Rhodes and Rollins stand together on Monday Night Raw as babyfaces in top programs. Rollins has a program with Finn Balor for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, while Rhodes has dabbled with Brock Lesnar since WrestleMania. Despite their great positions, one of them feels the heat of competition at the top.
In an interview with Denise Salcedo of Instinct Culture, Rhodes said competing with Rollins to be the face of Raw has been the toughest part of his journey (h/t Fightful for transcription).
“The toughest part is, we’re in a generation now, and one of the reasons why this has become one of the most successful and healthy time for pro wrestling or sports entertainment, one of the biggest challenges is you’re flanked by other guys and girls who could be in your spot and maybe are in your spot, and then you get it back. It’s not a negative thing. Politics are involved in any type of entertainment, but they’re really, I feel like been since removed because we have a bunch of grown men and women who are there now. Charlotte Flair is not NXT Charlotte. Seth Rollins is not The Shield Seth. Kevin Owens is not ROH Kevin Owens. They’ve experienced it, they’ve felt live crowds, they’ve understood booking, they’ve understood turning over money, everything, they’ve understood it, and now we’re all together. One of my favorite things and I think one of the reasons why I have been in the best position I’ve been in my career is because on the same show I compete with a guy, the World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, every week, and it’s not negative. He would like to be the Raw face, and I would like to be the Raw face. I don’t know, some weeks, maybe we trade it off, but that is what makes this good. Competition is what makes this good, and I needed to compete against the very best. Seth, I say he’s top three, one of the very best, Roman being one of the very best, that’s what been able to bring out the very best in me.”
Rhodes views his rivalry with Rollins for the top spot on Raw as beneficial one for the pro wrestling business. It’s healthy for WWE programming, as the pro wrestling business always thrives with competition. Hopefully, more of this is to come in the future.