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Following last week’s SmackDown, WWE fans are wildly speculating about a massive twist: is Cody Rhodes about to shock the world by turning heel and becoming the next “Paul Heyman Guy”? While fans have increasingly argued over the past year that Rhodes needs a character refresh, WWE might actually be listening – and adding the ultimate cherry on top by pairing him with Heyman. For anyone who hasn’t been keeping up with the blue brand, this past week’s episode is what sent speculation into hyperdrive. During a promo segment with Randy Orton, Rhodes dropped Heyman’s iconic catchphrase, “That is not a prediction, it’s a spoiler.” What makes the timing so intriguing is Heyman’s current role, acting as a Dana White-type promoter for the blockbuster clash between Oba Femi and Bron Breakker at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena during Sunday Night’s Main Event on September 6. It would be a masterclass swerve by WWE to make fans believe Heyman is siding with Femi or Breakker, only to pull the rug out and align him with Rhodes. It’s important to note that using Heyman’s catchphrase isn’t the only hint WWE has dropped, and on the May 8 episode of SmackDown, Heyman and Rhodes met in a promo segment that first planted these seeds. Near the end of the segment, Rhodes questioned whether Heyman was running out of options after Brock Lesnar’s retirement, Roman Reigns walking away, and CM Punk leaving him behind. Heyman offered a calculated reply: “I’m not the one running out of options. Sooner or later, they all need The Wiseman.” With all the signs pointing toward an unexpected alliance, let’s break down why bringing these two together could end up being one of the best moves WWE makes all year. Paul Heyman Has a History Working With Established Stars Over the course of his legendary career, Heyman has mentored rising talents like Curtis Axel, Ryback, Cesaro, and most famously and successfully, a young Brock Lesnar in 2002. Yet he’s equally adept at taking established main-eventers to the next level, a list that includes Rob Van Dam, Kurt Angle, CM Punk, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns. While the Rollins experiment might not have gone quite as smoothly as fans hoped, his runs with Punk and Reigns were absolute home runs. Even though Punk was already elite on the mic, Heyman brought invaluable ringside strategy, most notably during Punk’s match against John Cena at Night of Champions in 2012, handling the media, and acting as a trusted mouthpiece throughout their time together. As for Reigns, while he possessed all the raw talent of a main-event star, he hadn’t quite mastered his microphone work. Joining forces with Heyman in August 2020 instantly solved that problem. Heyman disclosed early on that he used to call Reigns just to chat with him in character as the Tribal Chief. The goal of those exercises was to get Reigns completely comfortable in his Tribal Chief persona, ensuring his promos sounded completely natural rather than scripted and rehearsed. In a hypothetical pairing with Rhodes, Heyman would likely take on a role similar to the one he had with Punk. Rhodes is already a solid talker on the microphone, but who’s to say he can’t reach another level? And there is no better mentor to push him there than Paul Heyman. Perfect Assist for a Character Reset Since returning to WWE in 2022, Rhodes’ natural charisma, clean-cut suits, and mission to honor his father’s legacy have made him a fan favorite. However, his work in AEW proved just how brilliantly he can play an arrogant, ultra-confident heel. Throughout WWE history, no manager has made their clients feel more untouchable than Paul Heyman. Brock Lesnar, CM Punk, and Roman Reigns are all the proof you need. Each of those men embarked on legendary title runs with Heyman by their side. CM Punk held the WWE Championship for 434 days, Brock Lesnar dominated as Universal Champion for 504 days, and Roman Reigns held the Undisputed Title for a staggering 1,316 days. Imagine swapping out the colorful suits and bleached-blonde hair for a dark new era: Cody Rhodes walking out to the ring with the Undisputed WWE Championship, rocking a sharp black suit, his dark hair restored, with Paul Heyman by his side. The Dusty Rhodes Connection Since returning in 2022, Cody Rhodes’ entire WWE run has been driven by the legacy of his late father, Dusty Rhodes. But what if the decision to join forces with Paul Heyman actually comes down to that very same man? Heyman has frequently cited Dusty as a major mentor who helped guide him through his early days in ECW and WCW. He could easily spin this alliance by arguing that while he can never pay back “The American Dream,” he can pay back his son. He could further manipulate Rhodes by guaranteeing that an alliance would make his next championship reign last forever, pointing to his historic work with Punk, Lesnar, and Reigns as proof. Yet the most devious card Heyman could play is convincing Cody that aligning with him is the only way to carry out Dusty’s true vision. Ultimately, even if a Cody-Heyman alliance seems unthinkable to some fans, there are countless reasons why it would be absolute television gold. And while we’ve broken down why Rhodes could benefit from a refresh, that leaves one crucial question unanswered: what’s next for The Wiseman himself? Beyond promoting matches like Dana White on a microphone, Paul Heyman’s ultimate power move is joining forces with The American Nightmare. It’s an unthinkable pairing that would shock the wrestling world and produce pure ratings magic.