5 Ways Cody Rhodes could turn heel in AEW

#1 "Homelander" Cody Rhodes does whatever he wants

Cody Rhodes is Homelander from The Boys. From his ring gear to his promos, Cody has been pushed as a superhero akin to the likes of Captain America or Superman during his time with AEW. But why does the main villain from The Boys fit the billing better?

Homelander is, like the aforementioned heroes, pro-USA and a beacon for the people of America, but only on the face of it. What makes Homelander the antagonist of his story is the emotional imperfections he hides from the general public.

While fans see a squeaky clean hero who can do no wrong, Homelander is someone who cannot keep his emotions in check and will spite those who challenge his persona with no remorse.

Interchange Cody Rhodes and Homelander in the previous paragraph and the notion still applies. Starting with Rhodes' first TNT Championship reign, we see the first inkling of his potential slow-burning heel turn as he takes on all comers.

This can be seen as what was billed by Cody as a platform for future stars to make themselves known. Or it can be seen as Rhodes showing he is superior to his peers, a character trait his manufactured superhero counterpart shares.

We've only seen the infallible superhero character fall when encountered by Mr. Brodie Lee, who savagely destroyed him to capture the title. However, in Cody's first return to the ring, he reclaimed what was once his at the first time of asking.

Cody Rhodes had previously bent the rules and used heel tactics to keep his title, but in such a way that he remained the perceived hero. This is a character nuance that can be used to show his desperation to remain the hero of the story.

The same can be said for his feud with QT Marshall. When the Factory pointed out Cody's character flaws, they were rebuffed and Cody remained in denial.

We have seen Cody Rhodes sever ties with those who question his character. He made sure to turn the narrative of The Factory vs. himself into a battle between UK and USA in order to preserve his image as the hero of the feud.

Even after losing to Malakai Black, we saw Cody Rhodes take the spotlight by teasing his retirement, either reinforcing his entitlement to be on centre stage or his fragility when it comes to the state of his character.

It would make sense then that there were tensions with the rest of the Nightmare Family during this feud, if they were propping up a fragile yet inflated ego possessed by their leader.

We could very well be on the home stretch of the eventual heel turn for Cody Rhodes, with the mask slowly slipping away.

The Homelander heel turn for Cody Rhodes would serve well to explain the refusal to buckle to fan demand, with The American Nightmare genuinely not seeing his own character flaws and feeling he is superior to those who surround him.