Cody Rhodes: A Case for Babyface Wrestling Management

In AEW, could Cody Rhodes be showing us that babyface authority figures are possible in wrestling?

For the better part of 22 years in wrestling, authority figures and management in wrestling have largely been portrayed as heels. Is it possible for someone who is openly in charge of a promotion to be a babyface? In AEW, Cody Rhodes shows that it is more than possible.

Given that the only real examples of management as an on-screen character that we have had since 1997 have been Vince McMahon, Triple H, and Stephanie McMahon, who have been heels for the majority of their run, until this very day. Eric Bischoff was openly in charge of WCW, but he was also a heel as a member of the NWO, though in the case of WCW, we also had J.J. Dillion to counteract him as a babyface that represented the WCW management.

Needless to say, the majority of examples of management as on-screen characters in the modern history in wrestling have been heels, creating an entire generation of fans that have not seen management in a promotion as babyfaces. This has had benefits, as it is arguable that Vince McMahon is the greatest heel character ever, as he always manages to get booed and the fans delight in seeing his evil plans getting thwarted.

This current trope of heel management can be traced directly back to the Montreal Screwjob, which saw Bret Hart legitimately double-crossed by Vince McMahon before Hart left for WCW. McMahon, until that point, was largely just recognized as an announcer on screen, and while people like Shawn Michaels and others hinted strongly that Vince was in charge, it was never really openly acknowledged often (though occasionally it was).

Bret Hart, despite being a heel, was universally beloved by the fans in 1997. While the American fans booed his Canadian patriotic heel character, when they saw what happened to Bret, they knew this wasn’t the planned finish. Hart left WCW, and suddenly everyone was angry at the WWF, and specifically, Vince McMahon.

McMahon took this and turned himself into the biggest heel in wrestling when he started to stand against Steve Austin for not being the kind of champion he wanted. Austin refused to go with Vince, and suddenly all the anger the fans had for McMahon was transferred into heat when Austin started beating up McMahon on a weekly basis.

From this point forward, WWE (and many other promotions) developed a blueprint for storylines that they have returned to over and over again: a heel management figure that stands up against the top babyface. On paper, the successful formula created by McMahon and Austin should work, but it has only had moderate success at best because of one simple factor: There is only one Vince McMahon and one Steve Austin. No one can replicate them.

They are one of a kind, and that magic that they had can’t be recreated, and that magic is still very much so alive, as we saw at the latest WWE Raw anniversary show where Austin stunned McMahon yet again, and it was so great. While there have been other heel authority figures historically, obviously McMahon is the most notable example – not only because he is the most well known, but because he is so fantastic in the roll. You will never be able to duplicate Vince McMahon, no matter how hard you try.

While this reliance on a heel authority figure has resulted in setting up an easy foil for the babyfaces and a heel that the crowd loves seeing get thwarted, it has created several problems over the years. In the case of diminishing returns – no babyface or heel has ever been able to live up to what McMahon and Austin did, though that is arguably a minor problem that can be overcome with decent booking.

The larger problem, however, is that it has created an entire generation of fans that see management as standing against their wishes. This isn’t helped by WWE, in many cases, have actually stood against the fans and what they wanted. The company itself has turned heel, both in storylines and sadly, in reality. Far too often in WWE programming we are led to feel that the company is at war with the fans.

I miss the days of Jack Tunney being in charge and making decisions for the fans, as keeping the fans happy and doing the right thing used to be something that every promotion tried to publicize so that the audience felt like the company was their friend. Instead, we have had years of the company being against the fans, both in storyline and in reality. This is why, to WWE’s credit, they have moved away from authority figures in this recent draft split. This is also why Cody Rhodes being a babyface is not only the right call, it’s refreshing.

Everyone knows that The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, and Cody Rhodes are involved with management in AEW along with Brandi Rhodes, Tony Khan, and a few others. The reality is, going into the weekly AEW Dynamite show, everyone knew that Cody was one of the people in charge. It would be nonsensical for them to pretend that it wasn’t given all the press leading into the formation of AEW.

Unlike past generations that left us wondering who was really in charge, we know that Cody is one of the people behind the scenes making decisions about the booking, hiring, and various other things. Not only that, but they are also responsible for producing the show. Unlike the past, Cody didn’t hide this fact from the fans and has leaned into it.

Some would question the wisdom of this, as it could backfire very easily, especially if any of them end up in a title picture. However, given that they are the biggest stars in the company, it is inevitable that they end up challenging and holding top titles at some point. So, why does Cody Rhodes work as a babyface in this situation?

The reason Cody works as a babyface is clearly seen in the promo he gave at the last episode of AEW Dynamite. Cody talked very openly about his title match against Jericho and promising that he would never challenge for the title again if he doesn’t win it, while hinting at a “Match Beyond (WAR GAMES, YES! Excuse my moment of marking out.)”

Cody has come across as the man that is not only helped form the promotion that offers a real alternative to fans burned by WWE, but as the man that stands against everything that drove them away from WWE. You see, unlike WWE, in reality and in character, Cody has come across as being someone that is for the fans.

From listening to criticism (as the media call for AEW Full Gear showed) to giving people matches with definitive finishes (outside of the occasional draw), AEW (and Cody) have positioned themselves as a safe haven for fans that were tired of the status quo of the last 20 years. He was reaching out (like Dusty did in his famous promo, as he reached through the camera to our hearts) to the fans and saying “We love you! We can’t do this without you!” and it has caught on.

The fans see Cody as the hero that has offered them a home when they felt driven away by WWE, and since the death of WCW. If that is true in reality doesn’t really matter. In character, the fans have connected with Cody at this level. Right now, he is the best babyface in North American wrestling, and it would be a grave mistake to turn him into the tired trope of heel authority figure against the fans.

Cody Rhodes, right now, is absolutely the right man to be the top babyface in AEW. Should he win the title at AEW Full Gear? I don’t think it’s time yet. I think Jericho should be the World Champion for a while longer. However, should he win that championship at some point? Absolutely. Even though he is in charge of AEW in many regards, he is not the only man booking, and I can promise that if he did win the title, it wouldn’t be a decision that was made lightly.

The potential backlash is real. Cody is in management. Dusty got booed towards the end of his run in JCP/NWA/WCW. The same could happen to Cody. However, if the cards are played right, they could create one of the biggest babyfaces in wrestling today, and having Cody as a babyface that is for the fans is something that wrestling desperately needs after 20+ years of heel authority figures in wrestling in various promotions.