Insight with Chris Van Vliet Cody Rhodes Reacts To Fans Booing, Possible Heel Turn, WrestleMania 42, Randy Orton, John Cena
Mar 13, 2026
Cody Rhodes, reigning WWE Undisputed Champion and multi-decade wrestling scion, talks fatherhood and how it reshaped his priorities. He digs into crowd reactions and learning to lean into boos, his WrestleMania clashes with Randy Orton and John Cena, the origin of the Cody Splash and Cody Vader spot, memorable slaps and injuries, and balancing wrestling with acting.
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Embracing Polarization As Engagement
- Cody Rhodes embraces being polarizing and values passion from both cheerers and booers as a sign of engagement.
- He aims to stay unaffected by reactions and use polarization to create entertaining, meaningful championship moments.
Encourage Fan Passion Don’t Suppress It
- Encourage fan passion rather than trying to dampen it; lean into both cheers and boos to amplify the show.
- Cody warns against discounting loyal fans while also not chasing those who will never support you.
Cigar Night Match Planning With John Cena
- Cody and John Cena planned their SummerSlam rematch informally over cigars the night before, then Cody wrote the match plan to avoid forgetting details.
- That old-school prep led to a focused, intentional match that survived hostile crowds.