Why The Cody Rhodes Angle Isn't Working?

[Mustang Sally]

I mean when Cody talked about being sick of Sandow's arrogance they should have thrown up some quick clips to illustrate his point for the fans.

True, but it illustrates that when a performer needs help to get his point across, it could be he just isn't exciting enough to do it himself.

I believe this feud could be much more effective if someone with a more dynamic personality than Cody was playing opposite Sandow. Cody's actions speak louder than his words because he simply isn't capable of making us care about what he says.

It's an old story. Outside of Dolph Ziggler, I've never seen a performer pushed as hard as Cody over the years..... with such little result. They've given this guy every gimmick under the sun, yet nothing really works. Yes, some of you think he's a fabulous performer, but I think that's largely because we've seen so much of him that many figure he's got to be great.

But he isn't. He's a useful mid-card wrestler who's better off not working spots in which speech is necessary. I've never heard his voice (I'm told it's bland and monotone) yet the simple cadence of his delivery just doesn't inspire, and it would be interesting to know why he's been given so many chances. (Dusty?)

I can't say whether the Sandow program would win raves if he was working with someone else, but I like what Damien is doing and wish we had a chance to see it with another wrestler playing his straight man.

Yes, I understand it makes storyline sense to have Damien's tag team partner as the foil, but I feel Cody is the reason this program isn't working, and wonder how long it will take WWE to realize it.

 

[Hard Hit Prince]

I believe this feud could be much more effective if someone with a more dynamic personality than Cody was playing opposite Sandow. Cody's actions speak louder than his words because he simply isn't capable of making us care about what he says.

It's an old story. Outside of Dolph Ziggler, I've never seen a performer pushed as hard as Cody over the years..... with such little result. They've given this guy every gimmick under the sun, yet nothing really works. Yes, some of you think he's a fabulous performer, but I think that's largely because we've seen so much of him that many figure he's got to be great.

I disagree with you Sally! I really do. Cody Rhodes was fantastic in his "broken" gimmick, he changed the way he spoke, he changed the little things like hiding his face and starting to be somehow afraid that people saw his face. He was really good getting heat from the crowd, he was relevant enough to make some people say that "The Intercontinental Championship" had been saved or wtv argument, even though he only had like three feuds for the strap.

He had an important match at WM27 with Rey Mysterio, a feud that culminated in a really good street fight at Extreme Rules and later, a uppercard push that put Rhodes against the likes of Randy Orton (even scoring a "clean" pinfall). He was being groomed for a push but his feud with The Big Show killed it all. It was an awful decision making him go against the likes of Big Show and worst, getting him beat at WrestleMania with such a bad storyline.

Right now he does not have a character, I mean he is the guy with a moustache and that's it. He's turning face, he isn't doing anything relevant for over a year already. Rhodes Scholars was a failure by itself since the purpose of the angle was getting Sandow over. Now that they did it, they are trying to maintain both relevant, specially Sandow. I don't think that the briefcase will change hands, Sandow is the one with steam right now. He has the relevant character defined, he had a signles push when he faced Sheamus in a great match. It's too soon to say that this isn't working, but it's a small push to relevancy to Cody Rhodes and he did showed signs to be a great future star. He's still young, so let's give him some time.

 

[The Eighties]

True, but it illustrates that when a performer needs help to get his point across, it could be he just isn't exciting enough to do it himself.

I believe this feud could be much more effective if someone with a more dynamic personality than Cody was playing opposite Sandow. Cody's actions speak louder than his words because he simply isn't capable of making us care about what he says.

It's an old story. Outside of Dolph Ziggler, I've never seen a performer pushed as hard as Cody over the years..... with such little result. They've given this guy every gimmick under the sun, yet nothing really works. Yes, some of you think he's a fabulous performer, but I think that's largely because we've seen so much of him that many figure he's got to be great.

But he isn't. He's a useful mid-card wrestler who's better off not working spots in which speech is necessary. I've never heard his voice (I'm told it's bland and monotone) yet the simple cadence of his delivery just doesn't inspire, and it would be interesting to know why he's been given so many chances. (Dusty?)

I can't say whether the Sandow program would win raves if he was working with someone else, but I like what Damien is doing and wish we had a chance to see it with another wrestler playing his straight man.

Yes, I understand it makes storyline sense to have Damien's tag team partner as the foil, but I feel Cody is the reason this program isn't working, and wonder how long it will take WWE to realize it.

In general I agree Sally, a top talent needs to be able to get their angle over regardless, we've seen it with guys before like Punk and Jericho, guys that cane take chicken shit and make chicken salad.

However in Cody's case I feel he's swimming upstream with an angle that lacks in logic and the fact he's been a characterless jobber for a long time now, so he's trying to get the car motoring again but WWE could help him by giving him a push start.

 

[KnowYoRole]

This angle isn't working because it seems like Cody learned how to be a face from Sheamus. NEWSFLASH: That don't work. He's been an insufferable bitter ass since this feud started and it's hard to get behind him.

What is Rhodes' gimmick? He has a mustache, AWESOME. He doesn't even have the dashing gimmick anymore and if he does he never plays it up. He's also just not as good as Sandow and people get that.

Sandow HAS a gimmick. Sandow IS funny. Sandow CAN talk. Sandow has way more charisma. Rhodes might be better in the ring but Sandow is clearly an all around better performer than Rhodes, who isn't main event material in my book.

 

[Revelations1]

They gave Damien Sandow the money in the bank briefcase for two reasons. He's HHH's friend, and this is a good way to enable a use for Cody Rhodes that doesn't involve the tired strategy of another meaningless IC title run. It's too early to determine if it will work, but it can only work if Damien and Cody do WWE Creative's job for them and make it interesting.