Though Cody Rhodes has only been the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion for about a month, some fans have already questioned whether the life-long challenger really has what it takes to be a reigning and defending title holder, with some suggesting that maybe his babyface “undesirable to undeniable” schtick doesn't work quite as well when he's lacing the same old promo with dad jokes.

Discussing his spot as the top babyface in WWE, something WWE hasn't had to the same degree since John Cena, in an interview with Peter Rosenberg on Cheap Heat, Rhodes recalled comments from WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman about the resurgence of heroes in WWE, before assuring fans that there is still “plenty of meat left on the bone” for this current run.

“I heard Mr. Heyman say this, and I know it's true because he didn't tell me directly. A byproduct of my return, he said, this is his words, it allowed the traditional babyface to come back. They were growing elsewhere, these babyfaces. Two prime examples are Sami Zayn and Jey Uso, who is now the face, with Seth [Seth Rollins], the face of Monday Night RAW. I know he didn't tell me that directly, and never will, but that felt like, ‘What a cool thing to maybe be able to claim. You were helpful in bringing that in.' I know there are people who are like, ‘They're going to start booing him.' At this point, you're right, because you play the game for over two years. At a certain point, I feel like it's an odd thing to say you're right when you've spent the last few years saying it would happen, and it didn't happen. I don't know where the peak of this is. I think some people look at WrestleMania and go, ‘Maybe that was the peak. Maybe that was it.' I would disagree, and I'm going to point to a sold-out Backlash in France. That's the opportunity for me,” Cody Rhodes told Peter Rosenberg via Fightful.

“I told AJ Styles, this is a dream match for some people, sure. To me, it's a legit must-win. Not just must win, but must dominate. Must show something. Whether you loved Roman or didn't like Roman, Roman has been your champ for three years. Now we're looking, here is the guy closing the shows. How is he going to close the shows? What is he going to be like? Was it just for that moment, or is there more? I'd like to let people know there is so much more meat on the bone. There is so much more to me, and this run is the chance to validate it. It's the mindset of ‘you're never doing enough. Have to keep going.' Everyone I know who is successful has that mindset and that's where I'm at.”

Is Rhodes right on the money? Will he be able to overcome the odds and become the sort of champion that's worthy of the annals of WWE history like Roman Reigns before him? Or will he falter and be looked at as just an okay representative of WWE's top strap? Fans will get the first hint at that answer at WWE Backlash this weekend.

Cody Rhodes wants to be WWE's merch seller.

Elsewhere in his interview with Peter Rosenberg, Cody Rhodes laid out another one of his major goals in 2024, becoming WWE's top merch seller, as he feels accomplishing that feat will not only prove that he's a viable long-term financial bellcow for the promotion but also someone fans want to support financially, too.

“One goal, and I think I have two particular goals that I've really put in mind because I'm a big long-term and short-term goal individual. A long-term goal for me is that I would like to be the most profitable talent that WWE has ever had,” Cody Rhodes declared via Fightful. “I know who hangs in that group. Your Austin 3:16s [Steve Austin], your Hustle, Loyal, Respect John Cenas, I know what I have been doing, and I know the length that I have to keep doing this for this goal to become a reality. That one is a little inside baseball and not all that glamorous, but even today, I would like to give WWE everything I possibly have because I feel like so much has been given to me coming out of WrestleMania XL. Sure, we worked for it and earned it, and I do think I'm the right person for the job, but I would like to make sure, when it's time, I leave them in the best possible place they've ever been.”

Will Rhodes ever outsell John Cena, Steve Austin, and The Rock? Well, considering they all have decades worth of fandom, that may be hard, but hey, WWE is in unprecedented times, so why couldn't Rhodes' fiscal success be unprecedented, too?