Following his galvanizing surprise return at WrestleMania 38, Cody Rhodes spoke to the WWE Universe at large with his April 6 appearance on talk hour show WWE The Bump. Hosts Kayla Braxton, Matt Camp, and Ryan Pappolla posed their own questions, and those of WWE fans via social media, to “The American Nightmare.” Rhodes answered with good humor and candor.
Cody Rhodes on WWE The Bump
Cody Rhodes entered the stage of The Bump appearing clearly in awe of its collection of WWE memorabilia, including the robe bestowed on Bret Hart when he won the King of the Ring event in 1993. Rhodes recovered his debonair mien in banter with the hosts, naming The Bump as his second favorite show on streamer Peacock. The first? Reruns of The Office.
The lighthearted atmosphere was soon dispersed by Camp, who asked Rhodes why now, WrestleMania 38 was the time he chose to return to WWE. Rhodes professed that it simply was the perfect time, that he loved “what he had been doing”-an allusion to the rival promotion he co-founded, All Elite Wrestling–but he needed to move forward.
“This wasn’t part of the plan, but that’s the beautiful way life is,” Rhodes said.
"I was expecting a more polarizing reaction at #WrestleMania…"
"It wasn't about leaving as much as it was about returning."
Nothing's off limits with @CodyRhodes right now in this in-depth interview on @WWETheBump! pic.twitter.com/OvO02q95JF
— WWE’s The Bump (@WWETheBump) April 6, 2022
The Prodigal Son’s Return:
Rhodes touched on the importance the support of his wife, Brandi Rhodes, the former chief brand officer of AEW, has been. Calling her “the Cinderella in his story”, Rhodes didn’t give any clues as to what his wife’s next move in the pro wrestling industry would be, but professed that he’d be there for her, as she had been there for him. Although candid moments backstage at WrestleMania 38 have been shared via social media, Rhodes shared a moment that went unrecorded to Camp, Braxton, and Pappolla. “If it,” (his WWE return at WrestleMania 38) “goes awry, go back to the bus,” he reportedly told his wife, fearing that he, himself, would underperform after 48 days between his last AEW match and his WWE return, or that he would be perceived as “the enemy” to the WWE Universe.
“I broke the throne,” Rhodes admitted, conceding that his role in AEW, “caused a disturbance.” Yet, fans welcomed him back with a resoundingly positive response, as the social media reactions to his match versus Seth Rollins, which the hosts unrolled for Rhodes to view, evidenced.
The Rhodes vs. Rollins Rivalry:
Speaking on Rollins, Rhodes revealed that the emotional subtext between the two rivals run deep, and back to Rhodes legendary father, “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes. Before his death, Dusty Rhodes presided over developing WWE’s fresh talent at NXT. The graduates of that brand during his tenure are known, to Cody Rhodes’s chagrin, as “Dusty’s kids.” Rollins was presented with the NXT Championship by Rhodes’s father. Rhodes stated that, aside from “the tattoo on his neck” , if he could speak to his father now what the elder Rhodes would most have gotten a kick out of about his WWE return is that he fought one of his star pupils. Rhodes said that he and Rollins were both in their “final form”. Though they have crossed paths in WWE before, “the two men who were there on Saturday have not,” Rhodes said, adding that the match represented to him, “two guys in the prime of their career going for it.”
Although the rivalry between the two, Rollins and Rhodes, will surely continue, he named other names in the WWE Universe as possible opponents in the future.
Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre:
Of former tag team partner Drew McIntyre, Rhodes didn’t hold back any punches, saying, McIntyre had, “a chip on his shoulder,” because his “hottest moment came in front of nobody,” referencing McIntyre’s WWE Championship wins in the ThunderDome at Amway Center, when WWE ceased live shows out of deference to the global pandemic. Rhodes claimed that as former partners, he has “access” to McIntyre’s moveset, including his iconic Claymore kick. However, he also praised McIntyre’s abilities as a heavyweight wrestler.
Of Reigns, the newly minted WWE Undisputed Universal Champion, Rhodes said that he witnessed Reigns handle a lot of negativity during his time at the top of WWE, but, “Consistency is what makes a champion a champion,” and Reigns’s consistency had earned him his place. He looked forward to crossing paths with him.
The American Nightmare @CodyRhodes has a LOT to say about the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion @WWERomanReigns on @WWETheBump…@HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/2jndl11ggM
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2022
Eyes on the Prize:
Although he didn’t expressly lay down a challenge for WWE’s newly created top prize, Rhodes has made his ambitions, and the inspiration behind them, clear. Rhodes told Variety, and reiterated on The Bump, of an incident from his father’s life that has set the tone for his own goals. In 1977, Dusty Rhodes fought “Superstar” Billy Graham at Madison Square Garden for the WWWF Championship, but did not claim it because of a match stipulation. “I understand that now as an adult, but as a kid, that was the only reason I ever wanted to get in, so that I could get what he didn’t get,” Rhodes said to Variety. He reiterated at The Bump, “I’m sorry, Dad, that I didn’t get it done.”
Cody Rhodes on The Bump – In Conclusion:
Despite multiple tag team and Intercontinental title reigns, Rhodes has never held a WWE world title. Winning the new, unified title currently held by Reigns would be the fruition of a long held dream. Although this is one of many intriguing possibilities ahead for “The American Nightmare”, he now seems to be laser focused on Rollins in the ring, and basking in the warm welcome home to WWE outside of it.
