Even the most ardent critic would have to admit that Cody Rhodes’ return to WWE has paid off, but his continued success in 2024 has been a sight to behold.

The second-generation star’s meteoric journey as the company’s top babyface almost defies logic at this point. His ability to overcome all obstacles, disprove all predictions of his downfall, and remain popular is impressive.

After all, he withstood a crushing loss to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39 and became a back-to-back winner of the men’s Royal Rumble. The Rock’s wildly entertaining return and a long-awaited dream match with The Head of the Table couldn’t even derail his rise to the top.

His most vocal supporters rebelled before The Showcase of the Immortals, and Rhodes finally finished his story on the second night of the event. Nothing could stop him from achieving his ultimate goal, but it didn’t stop there.

Fans online were sure that viewers would tire of The American Nightmare and the familiar calls for him to turn heel would eventually begin. But that didn’t happen and he remains one of the most famous protagonists in the sector.

It’s surprising, but the numbers don’t lie. Maybe it’s time to admit that The American Nightmare is the pure babyface that WWE has been looking for since John Cena left for Hollywood.

Stunning metrics and unparalleled connection

This may seem far-fetched to some, but it’s hard to argue with the results. Reigns is undeniably the biggest star of his era, but his return hasn’t eclipsed Rhodes’ reign like most of us expected.

In fact, its merchandise remains the most sought-after commodity. According to Sean Ross Sapp from Fightful, “It’s always been Cody Rhodes for a while now. Outside of the occasional live event where generic WWE-themed or PPV-branded merchandise is collectively the biggest seller, it’s almost always Cody. “

In September, the 39-year-old entered rarefied air when he became one of the top five athletes and personalities in terms of overall sales on Fanatics. This was a major milestone as no other wrestler has ranked this high among names in other sports.

The feat even got the approval of Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin.

Coming back to the Cena comparison, Dave Meltzer put his popularity into perspective in July. He explain in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the numbers would indicate that Rhodes has surpassed him as the most successful babyface since the Attitude Era: