WWE Faces Huge Backlash Risk If They Repeat Past Mistakes With Seth Rollins & Cody Rhodes
Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins are set for another blockbuster collision at WWE Crown Jewel — and fans are already buzzing about the possible fallout.
The Crown Jewel Championship, introduced last year, pits the two top champions of each brand against one another. In 2024, Cody Rhodes defeated then-World Heavyweight Champion Gunther. This year, as the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion, The American Nightmare will face none other than Seth “Freakin” Rollins, the current World Heavyweight Champion.
Why Seth Rollins Can’t Afford Another Loss
Former WWE star and current TNA talent Nic Nemeth weighed in on the heated rivalry during Busted Open Radio. While he admitted there are interesting storytelling routes if Rollins were to lose, Nemeth strongly believes WWE would be making a serious mistake by booking The Visionary to fall to Cody yet again.
Rollins has already been beaten multiple times by Rhodes in the past, and continuing that trend could damage his long-term standing. Nemeth explained that Rollins is supposed to be WWE’s “Architect” — a performer who can outshine anyone, steal the show, and carry the company into its next era. For that vision to stick, he needs a decisive win over Cody.
“If you’re saying Seth is the guy who can go out there night after night, do the work, light up the crowd, and change the face of WWE, then he has to win here. Otherwise, you risk making him look like a backup to Cody instead of a true game-changer,” Nemeth warned.
WWE’s Big Dilemma
The match presents WWE with a delicate balancing act. Cody is the top babyface and the face of the company, but Rollins desperately needs a major victory to solidify his legacy. If WWE books Rhodes to dominate Rollins yet again, it could derail years of work building Rollins as The Visionary and reduce him to little more than Cody’s stepping stone.
Crown Jewel could be a turning point — either the night Rollins finally breaks his losing streak against Rhodes or the night WWE risks undermining one of its biggest stars.
