Cody Rhodes to captain Team USA at WWE Survivor Series 2026 (Image via WWE)
The break came when he decided to leave WWE in 2016. His return to WWE at WrestleMania 38 in 2022 marked the beginning of the next chapter in a journey that culminated in his victory over Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. Cody made his WWE debut in 2007 after signing with the company in 2006. When his father died in 2015, the need to create a legacy that mattered became personal. Cody eventually asked for his WWE release and left in 2016. In 2011, she was signed to a developmental contract by WWE and married Cody in September 2013. Cody Rhodes made his return to WWE at WrestleMania 38 in April 2022, as a surprise opponent for Seth Rollins. In 2023, he reached the main event of WrestleMania 39, where he lost to Roman Reigns. Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines Cody won the Royal Rumble in 2023 and 2024, earning himself a world championship shot at WrestleMania. He came up short against Reigns in 2023, but came back for another shot at WrestleMania 40. Cody defeated Roman Reigns in the main event on April 7, 2024, to win the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, ending the story that had defined his return.
His return also sparked the beginning of a major championship chase centred around his desire to win the world championship his father never won in WWE. The American Dream had a celebrated career and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, but never won the WWE’s top world championship. Cody Rhodes ’ rise to the top of WWE is more than just championship titles. He is the son of WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes and half-brother of Dustin Rhodes, and he brought a famous family name and the expectations that came with it into pro wrestling. His early run in WWE brought championship success, but it also came with creative frustrations, which ultimately led him to take a different path. With the backing of his wife, Brandi Rhodes, Cody wrestled on the independent circuit, helped found All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and solidified his identity as ‘The American Nightmare’. Cody Rhodes’ family was a big factor that affected his wrestling career, but his ultimate success came from developing an identity separate from his father’s legacy. Dusty Rhodes was the legacy, but Brandi Rhodes was the partner through several defining stages of his career. Comparisons to his father were nearly impossible to avoid as the son of Dusty Rhodes. Dusty was known for his charisma, his storytelling and his rapport with wrestling crowds, setting the bar high for the next generation. Cody got noticed first by some character developments and championship opportunities. He was a two-time Intercontinental Champion and a tag champ with different partners. But eventually his career hit a creative crossroads, particularly when he was portraying Stardust, a character that invited comparisons with his half-brother Dustin Rhodes’ Goldust persona. The Stardust character gave Cody a recognisable TV role, but it wasn’t the direction he wanted his career to take. Brandi Rhodes was more than just a supportive spouse through Cody’s career transition. She had a wrestling background of her own and knew the demands of the business. Her experience gave the couple a common understanding of pro wrestling, including the uncertainty that comes with pursuing opportunities outside a major promotion. Brandi stood by Cody’s side as he navigated independent wrestling and crafted a new professional identity. The couple also became part of the movement that helped build AEW. Cody was an executive vice president and performer, and Brandi was an executive and wrestler in the promotion. Both had come from the WWE world before, and their work together was a huge departure. Brandi should not be thought of as just the woman behind the man. She carved out her own wrestling career and helped the business at a time when both were taking huge professional risks. Their experience together was a vital part of Cody’s transformation. Cody’s story post-return was still very much about Dusty Rhodes’ impact. Cody made that family connection a huge part of his championship aspirations. His purpose was not merely to be another titleholder; it was to do something that lay beyond his father’s grasp. Losing didn’t end his chase; it prolonged the story and added significance to his eventual title victory. The victory was a major career milestone and tied his personal ambition to his father’s legacy. What makes Cody Rhodes’ story special is that it wasn’t just about getting opportunities from WWE or inheriting a famous surname. He had creative failures, turned down a big promotion, found success elsewhere and came back with a clearer sense of who he was. There was a lot of Dusty Rhodes and Brandi Rhodes partnership in it, but Cody’s accomplishments were really just his own choices and his own hard work. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.
Cody Rhodes departed WWE in 2016, seeking out places where he could have more creative control and autonomy over his wrestling character. A particularly notable milestone came in 2018 with All In. AEW debuted in 2019, with Cody serving as one of its executive vice presidents and a key performer, and the promotion gave him another outlet to impact wrestling beyond his in-ring performances.
Because cody wasn’t just trying to escape a character he didn’t want, it was a big deal. He slowly developed the American Nightmare character, moving away from the Stardust character and presenting himself as a more serious main event player. His accomplishments outside of WWE helped prove that he was more than just a popular family member. He is a former ROH World Champion and IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion and also became NWA World Heavyweight Champion. Along with Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson, Cody helped to promote the show, drawing a large crowd and showing what wrestling events can be when they are not under the thumb of WWE. He was the first AEW TNT Champion and a multiple-time champion. His work for AEW also demonstrated he could contribute to wrestling as a performer and executive. He was helping build another wrestling company and creating opportunities for other performers. That experience helped build his reputation before his eventual return to WWE.