Cody Rhodes' Heel Turn in Clash of Clans WWE Campaign

Cody Rhodes Embraces His Inner Villain in Clash of Clans WWE Campaign

In the world of professional wrestling, a "heel turn" is a dramatic shift in a wrestler's persona, from hero to villain. While John Cena recently shocked the WWE universe with his own heel turn, it's Cody Rhodes, the "American Nightmare," who takes center stage in the latest campaign for the mobile game Clash of Clans.

This multi-part campaign from Supercell features Rhodes in a series of humorous 30-second ads. In "Alter Ego," Rhodes revels in his in-game destruction as "Overlord Rhodes" until fellow WWE Superstar Rhea Ripley interrupts his boasting.

The storyline continues in "The Showdown," where Rhodes' peaceful needlepoint session is disrupted by Ripley's attack on his in-game village. The action spills over into the real world in "We Want Revenge," as Rhodes faces consequences for his virtual rampage, encountering both angry fans and real-life marauders.

Authenticity is Key

This collaboration between Clash of Clans and WWE, timed around WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas, is a significant undertaking for both brands. The campaign aims to resonate with both wrestling fans and Clash of Clans players.

The choice of Cody Rhodes was strategic. A long-time Clash of Clans player ranked among the top 10% worldwide, Rhodes' in-game persona, "Overlord Rhodes," provided the perfect opportunity to explore the duality between his heroic wrestling persona and his villainous gaming counterpart.

He's a babyface, he'll never go heel, he'll never be a villain. But when you think about it, if you're that good at Clash of Clans, you are a villain, because the whole game is raiding villages. So what if we revealed that and tapped into that?

WWE embraced the concept, appreciating the agency's research-driven insights into their product and fanbase. The campaign even received approval from WWE Chief Content Officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque.

Interestingly, the campaign's timing coincided with John Cena's unexpected heel turn, further amplifying the theme of good versus evil. A 60-second version of the Clash of Clans ad has garnered over 2.5 million views, demonstrating the high level of engagement among Supercell's dedicated fan base.

The success of the campaign highlights the power of authentic partnerships and the importance of understanding and engaging with a target audience.