Cody Rhodes has been an exceptional champion and the top protagonist WWE needed following Roman Reigns' historic run, but his storylines have been hit-or-miss.

We've defended his reign and praised his ability to defy the odds and remain hot in 2024. Most of his vocal critics would even agree that his title defenses have been spectacular, but many viewers want to see more intriguing stories.

Although the 39-year-old has carved out his own corner of WWE programming, SmackDown still undeniably feels like The Bloodline's show. That's largely because the faction gets a bulk of the screen time, and it still regularly opens and closes the show.

It's hard to argue Rhodes hasn't emerged as the face of WWE, but his feuds often come off as the B-plot on the blue brand. That's a valid complaint for someone who is holding the top prize.

Scheduling his upcoming match for Saturday Night's Main Event will further support some claims that he is still second in the hierarchy to Reigns. Nevertheless, his latest rivalry has been a step in the right direction for viewers hoping to see him in long-term storylines.

With that in mind, let's rank his feuds since he dethroned The Tribal Chief to become the reigning undisputed WWE champion.

4. Logan Paul

Rhodes and Logan Paul produced a tremendous match at King and Queen of the Ring in May, but the build left much to be desired.

Initially, it was unclear if the YouTuber would also defend his U.S. title. It's hard to tell if this was an example of the Mandela effect, but it was seemingly advertised as a champion vs. champion match at one point. The challenger even asked for the stipulation during the May 10 episode of SmackDown.

Regardless, Paul tore up their first contract, refused to put his belt on the line and goaded The American Nightmare into signing a new agreement his representatives had prepared. It was a clunky premise, but their exchanges often made up for this illogical development.

The host of Impaulsive made an ideal foil for Rhodes because his ego, excessive boasting and shameless product placement generated heat. In response, the champ didn't belittle his foray into wrestling or take him lightly.

Instead, he humbled him and called his bluff at every turn. This was easily Rhodes' weakest feud, but standing next to a pretender made him appear even more genuine.

3. Solo Sikoa

Although their match at SummerSlam was divisive, Solo Sikoa had a slightly better feud with The American Nightmare.

The leader of the new Bloodline became a thorn in Rhodes' side following the opening contest from Clash at the Castle. He pinned the champion at Money in the Bank, setting up their encounter at The Biggest Party of the Summer.

The major drawback to this period of his reign was that many viewers didn't want to see him mixed up with The Bloodline again so soon. Additionally, their weekly segments grew repetitive as the group would attack him and his allies just about every week, and then stand tall in the end.

This usually didn't make the second-generation star look like a competent champion or particularly bright because he kept falling for the same setup.

Still, their program did give us memorable moments like the introduction of Jacob Fatu, The Tribal Chief's return and the reluctant Reigns-Rhodes alliance at Bad Blood.

One could argue this feud did more to build anticipation for The OTC's return and advance his plotline with Sikoa ahead of Survivor Series: WarGames. Nonetheless, its clear direction and eventful arc still place it firmly ahead of our last entry.

2. AJ Styles

After Rhodes returned to WWE at WrestleMania 38, AJ Styles quickly topped most lists of dream opponents for him.

The two have wrestled for most of the same companies and traveled in the same circles, but they always just missed each other. Once they were finally on the same brand, The Phenomenal One won a tournament to become the first challenger for the new champion.

Their first-time matchup at Backlash France didn't disappoint. The stellar in-ring action and the electric atmosphere the LDLC Arena crowd in Lyon provided made it an early contender for match of the year.

However, their rivalry escalated in the weeks following King and Queen of the Ring. On the May 31 episode of SmackDown, Styles took a page from Mark Henry's playbook when he faked his retirement to force Rhodes and SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis to grant him a rematch.

The subsequent "I Quit" contest at Clash at the Castle wasn't quite as good as their first encounter, but this feud lived up to the hype. So much so that we would love to see a third match.

1. Kevin Owens

Rhodes' current angle with Kevin Owens is the best balance of great in-ring storytelling and segments that blur the line between fiction and reality.

The Prizefighter is one of the most compelling characters in pro wrestling because his promos are believable and he often says what the audience is thinking. It may sound cliche now, but the best villains don't think they're evil.

Owens is a relatable antagonist because his motives seem justified, and he explains them with such passion and conviction. Even when we're supposed to root against him, the Canadian star comes across as the everyman we want to succeed.

That's such an interesting departure for this title reign because Rhodes usually fills that role in comparison to his opponents, who have all been clear-cut heels up to this point. KO is the first challenger who truly made us question his intentions and pushed him to act uncharacteristically defensive.

Their first match was built around their real-life friendship and his history of turning on his good friends for an opportunity to become champion. This dynamic paved the way for entertaining segments and an excellent match at Bash in Berlin on August 31.

Still, this feud improved exponentially after the backstage footage of Owens attacking Rhodes after Bad Blood surfaced. This was a brilliant way to reignite their conflict after the uneasy conclusion to their first match.

The two will face off on Saturday Night's Main Event's re-debut to NBC on Dec. 14 in a showdown that will keep us guessing what's next.