Cody Rhodes is addressing the growing number of arenas where the crowd isn't fully in his corner - and he's taking it in stride. Much like he refers to himself as the "Quarterback" of WWE, Rhodes used a sports analogy to describe his current standing with live audiences across the country.
During a Wednesday appearance on ESPN's Unsportsmanlike podcast, the American Nightmare explained how another sports analogy helps him process the fact that fans won't always cheer for his success.
I'm in a funky spot as a wrestler on the show now where not every game is a home game anymore," Rhodes said.
"I started getting some, 'Let's go Cody, Cody sucks.'
Rhodes also shared a memorable backstage moment from a recent tour stop in Germany, where veteran Bobby Roode gave him a heads-up before he headed to the ring.
Bobby Roode walked up to me backstage. He goes, 'They just showed you on the screen. It's going to be an away game,'" Rhodes recalled. "I thought, 'Alright.' The energy is all that matters, so it's not a thing.
Some Markets Still Firmly Behind Rhodes
Despite the mixed reactions in certain venues, Rhodes noted that key markets remain solidly in his camp.
There are places like Florida and there's places like Texas, it's like, 'Ah, still feel good. We're cool. We're cool still,'" he said.
The candid comments come at an interesting time for The American Nightmare. Rhodes recently lost the Undisputed WWE Championship to Drew McIntyre in a Three Stages of Hell match in January 2026, and has been navigating a complicated road back toward WrestleMania 42.
Some crowds have grown resistant to seeing him back in the title picture, making the "away game" dynamic very much a real factor heading into the spring.
Rhodes has repeatedly stated his intention to remain a babyface despite the pressure, though he acknowledged on a recent podcast episode that a heel turn is something he may eventually need.
For now, he appears content to embrace whatever energy the crowd brings — home game or not.
