SEScoops

Tag: Cody Rhodes

  • Cody Rhodes Fought Through Violent Illness Before WWE Live Event

    Cody Rhodes is a top draw for WWE, and he realizes that. He has immense popularity among fans, and The American Nightmare wants to fulfill all of his booking obligations, even if that means he must fight illness to make it. His commitment to going the extra mile for his supporters is evident. 

    Cody Rhodes Wrestled Through Illness 

    During the WWE live event in Place Bell, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Rhodes on December 28th, Cody Rhodes engaged in a Last Man Standing Match against Damian Priest. He won that match, but fans had no idea what Cody was really going through.

    Cody Rhodes jumped on X to share that moments before his entrance, he was throwing up. This vomit episode was apparently so violent that he lost some body weight in the process.

    Fun fact/and an overshare – I vomited what felt like half my body weight 30 seconds before my music hit ha.

    Thank you Montreal for lifting me up to be able to fight!

    Cody Rhodes’ Future In WWE

    This incident wasn’t the only instance of Cody Rhodes demonstrating his dedication. The American Nightmare brings it every time he can make it to the ring, no matter how he’s feeling.

    Cody Rhodes already claimed a spot in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. We will have to see if he wins the big match, but it wouldn’t be the worst bet someone could make right now.

    Despite facing the challenge of vomiting heavily just before the match, Rhodes didn’t back down. Hopefully, he is able to get over that stomach issue so it doesn’t become a long term problem.

  • Cody Rhodes touts his ‘gains’ ahead of the Royal Rumble

    As the year ends, WWE superstar Cody Rhodes is looking towards his next big challenge. On the November 27 episode of Monday Night Raw, he declared he would enter the 2024 Royal Rumble Match on January 27, 2024, to challenge for a world title at WWE WrestleMania 40. 

    In preparation for the company’s next premium live event, Rhodes is in fantastic shape and motivated to win the Royal Rumble Match for the second time. 

    https://twitter.com/livsnightmare/status/1739849122297815368

    On November 26, “The American Nightmare” faced Shinsuke Nakamura in a Bull Rope Match at a WWE House Show event, where fans were impressed with his appearance. One Rhodes fan took a photo of him and tweeted that he looked “Jacked.”

     The following day, the WWE superstar reposted the tweet and wrote, “Goals and gains and resolutions – I’m aiming to go back to back.”

    After suffering an injury in 2022, Rhodes returned to the company at WWE Royal Rumble on January 28, 2023. He would win the Royal Rumble Match and face Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WWE WrestleMania 39 Night Two on April 2.

     Unfortunately for “The American Nightmare,”  he was unsuccessful in defeating Reigns and has to rebound in the 2024 Royal Rumble Match. Reigns and his “Wise Man” Paul Heyman refuse to give Rhodes a rematch, which has given the “babyface” added motivation to win the battle royal. 

    His recent physical appearance is promising for Rhodes’ fans as he looks to stay healthy and attempt to become a two-time Royal Rumble Match winner. 

    The Obstacles Cody Rhodes Has To Face Heading Into The 2024 Royal Rumble Match

    Although Rhodes looks incredible and is hungry to win the Royal Rumble Match, he has some obstacles. Besides having to eliminate 29 other wrestlers, he is also in an ongoing feud with Nakamura. 

    The former NXT Champion is also looking to win the Royal Rumble Match for the second time and ensure Rhodes doesn’t. Nakamura is similar to Rhodes, who won the Men’s Royal Rumble Match in 2018 but didn’t win the WWE Championship. Nakamura has shared that “The American Nightmare” ambition to win next year’s match inspired him to be victorious. 

    Image Credit: WWE

    The Japanese superstar will try to stand in Rhodes’s way to ensure that he loses seemingly by any means. 

    Another star Rhodes has to look out for is CM Punk, who wants to win his first Royal Rumble Match. Punk announced on the December 11 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw that he would compete in next year’s match. The former WWE Champion has momentum and fans behind him, as he will also try to ruin Rhodes’s chances. 

    “The American Nightmare” has many obstacles standing in front of him. However, he is physically ready and confident he will be the main event at WrestleMania again. 

  • WWE’s 12/26 Madison Square Garden Event Breaks Historic Record

    WWE’s 12/26 Madison Square Garden Event Breaks Historic Record

    WWE has made history in Madison Square Garden many times in the past. They ran the famous venue on December 26th, and their trend of historic moments continued. The event was already set to be memorable for many reasons, but they also broke a financial record.

    WWE Broke A Huge Record With 12/26 MSG Event

    CM Punk marked his in-ring comeback on December 26th at MSG against Dominik Mysterio. Sami Zayn also returned to the ring after a hiatus. Fans in NYC witnessed a fantastic live event, and they showed up in droves, with a total sell-out.

    According to Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select, the December 26th Madison Square Garden live event set a massive record. It was the highest-grossing non-televised domestic WWE event ever.

    Internal WWE live events reports claim that WWE’s live event in Madison Square Garden was sold out. The event was said to be the highest grossing domestic non-televised event of all-time for WWE.

    WWE MSG 12/26 Results:

    The event included four championship matches, concluding with the main event between Drew McIntyre and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.

    In the opening match of the night, Becky Lynch defeated Zoey Stark. Then, Kofi Kingston beat Ludwig Kaiser, and the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships match saw Kayden Carter & Katana Chance successfully defend against Chelsea Green & Piper Niven.

    Omos, accompanied by MVP, and he beat against R-Truth. In the WWE Women’s World Championship Triple Threat Match, Rhea Ripley defended her title by defeating Ivy Nile & Shayna Baszler.

    The Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships remained with Judgment Day after they defeated Jey Uso & Sami Zayn. That match marked Sami’s return to in-ring action after a short hiatus.

    CM Punk secured a win against Dominik Mysterio. Rhea Ripley was with Dirty Dominik during the match, and it also marked Punk’s first WWE match since 2014.

    Ricochet beat Bronson Reed. Then, Cody Rhodes beat Shinsuke Nakamura in a bull rope match. The final match of the night was for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in a No-DQ Match, where Seth Rollins successfully defended his title against Drew McIntyre.

  • Cody Rhodes Went the Extra Mile to Make a Young Fan’s Christmas Even Better

    Cody Rhodes Went the Extra Mile to Make a Young Fan’s Christmas Even Better

    WWE Raw Superstar Cody Rhodes was in an especially generous mood as one very lucky young fan found out on Christmas Day. 

    On Twitter, a fan named Kenny shared that they had sold a figure of the American Nightmare to another fan, who was buying the toy as a gift for their seven-year-old child. Kenny asked if Rhodes could send a signed photo to make the child’s Christmas extra special. 

    In an update, Kenny shared that Cody went the extra mile to make the seven-year-olds Christmas extra special. We don’t know if Cody sent a signed photo, but he sent the kid named Carson a signed Cody Rhodes authentic weight belt. The father would tell Kenny that he had made Carson’s day. 

    Cody’s Generosity Knows No Bounds

    This is hardly the first time that the American Nightmare has shown his generous side. At WWE live events, Cody has been competing in Extreme Rules matches and has been gifting pieces of a broken table to those in the crowd. After last week’s Raw, Rhodes went even further and gifted a Christmas Tree to a fan. 

    What’s Next for Cody Rhodes? 

    Cody will compete in next month’s Men’s Royal Rumble match, the same bout he won in January of this year. If he wins, Rhodes will become the fourth man to win back-to-back Rumbles (the others being Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin. Win or lose, many have predicted that Rhodes will face Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. 

  • Cody Rhodes Vs. Roman Reigns is WWE’s 2023 Match of the Year

    Cody Rhodes Vs. Roman Reigns is WWE’s 2023 Match of the Year

    Cody Rhodes may have failed to finish the story at WrestleMania 39 earlier this year, but he and Roman Reigns delivered WWE’s best match of the year. 

    Earlier this month, WWE kicked off a fan-voted tournament to see what was the best match of the year. The tournament featured the following matches: 

    • SummerSlam: Cody Rhodes vs Brock Lesnar
    • WrestleMania 39: Rey Mysterio vs Dominik Mysterio
    • Payback: Trish Stratus vs Becky Lynch
    • WrestleMania 39: Fatal Four-Way Men’s Tag Team Match
    • Monday Night RAW: Chad Gable vs Gunther
    • WrestleMania 39: Rhea Ripley vs Charlotte Flair
    • Money In The Bank: The Usos vs Solo Sikoa and Roman Reigns
    • WrestleMania 39: Drew McIntyre vs Gunther vs Sheamus
    • Backlash: Bad Bunny vs Damian Priest
    • NXT Deadline: Men’s Iron Survivor Match
    • WrestleMania 39: Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes
    • Crown Jewel: Seth Rollins vs Drew McIntyre
    • Backlash: IYO Sky vs Bianca Belair
    • Elimination Chamber: Sami Zayn vs Roman Reigns
    • WrestleMania 39: The Usos vs Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens
    • NXT No Mercy: Carmelo Hayes vs Ilja Dragunov

    In the end, the finals saw two matches featuring WWE’s American Nightmare. The finals were between Rhodes’ WrestleMania 39 match with Reigns and his SummerSlam 2023 showdown with Brock Lesnar. 

    What’s Next?

    Cody Rhodes is currently feuding with Shinsuke Nakamura, who has been able to mist Rhodes multiple times. Cody will compete in next month’s Men’s Royal Rumble match. If he wins, Cody will become the fourth man to win back-to-back Royal Rumble matches. Win or lose, many expect Rhodes will challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. WWE’s annual Showcase of the Immortals will take place in April from Philadelphia, PA.

    Cody Rhodes is going to be staying with WWE for many years to come. Click here to find out more. 

  • Cody Rhodes recently signed a new contract with WWE

    Cody Rhodes recently signed a new contract with WWE

    Cody Rhodes is one of WWE’s biggest names at this point, and his Kingdom entrance music makes fans yell “WOAH!” all around the world. Now, we have good news for those fans who love seeing the American Nightmare in a WWE ring.

    Cody Rhodes Contract Update

    It was previously reported that WWE was aiming to secure Cody Rhodes with a new contract. That contract was said to be a big-money deal as well.

    According to Dave Meltzer on F4WOnline, Cody Rhodes signed a new deal with WWE around October, coinciding with the timing of Charlotte Flair’s contract extension. For some reason, this fact was not previously reported until now.

    While the specific details of the new contract, such as its length and financial terms, remain unknown, Dave Meltzer drew parallels to Charlotte Flair’s situation. The Queen’s contract extension was revealed months after the fact, and it was reportedly for huge money.

    Meanwhile, Fightful has been reporting that WWE officials are eager to lock Cody in to a new longterm deal. In response to Dave Meltzer claiming Cody re-signed months ago, Sean Ross Sapp’s sources claim that WWE did in fact send Cody a new contract back in October, but he’s yet to put pen to paper.

    Since his return to WWE, Cody Rhodes has already won a Royal Rumble match, which secured him a main event match spot against Roman Reigns for the Undisputed Universal Title at WrestleMania 39. Rhodes did not win that match, but he is still on a mission to finish his story.

    Cody Rhodes’ WWE Return

    In 2019, Cody Rhodes played a significant role in establishing AEW, as he contributed greatly to the company’s foundation. However, in February 2022, the AEW EVP Cody Rhodes and his wife, Brandi Rhodes, decided not to renew their contracts with the company.

    Following their departure from AEW, Cody Rhodes signed a deal with WWE. That set him up for a surprise return, that so many saw coming, at WrestleMania 38. He was Seth Rollins’ unannounced opponent for that show, and he won his return match, ending a six-year absence from WWE.

    UPDATE: Contradictory Report On Cody Rhodes’ WWE Contract

    Sean Ross Sapp reported an update on Fightful Select. It was noted that, after speaking to a source with direct ties to Cody Rhodes that, “Their claim is that the approach and initial offer from WWE was made in October, but no deal was signed at that point. One is expected to be signed, and an agreement is in place, we’re told.”

    It was further noted that,“several wrestlers that were also under the impression Rhodes had re-signed, or was going to imminently.“

  • WWE Looking To Lock Cody Rhodes Down With Contract Extension

    WWE Looking To Lock Cody Rhodes Down With Contract Extension

    WWE has a big 2024 ahead for the company, complete with shiny new television deals, and plenty of important events. Triple H wants to make sure that key people don’t leave in the process.

    Cody Rhodes WWE Contract News

    Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that “WWE is interested in extending another contract, and it’s a major one.” They have zeroed in on locking Cody Rhodes down with a longer deal.

    Sources have confirmed to Fightful that WWE has been engaged in talks with Cody Rhodes about a multi-year contract extension. Based on what we’re told, WWE is trying to lock him down long term. Of late, WWE has extended the contracts of Bayley, Charlotte Flair, Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio. Rhodes would be a monumental re-signing for the the company.

    No terms of the contract with Cody Rhodes were reported, but it was noted that The American Nightmare is expected to receive “a sizeable raise whenever the deal does occur.”

    The report also noted that Cody Rhodes bought a new bus for himself around Thanksgiving. That led some in the company to assume that a new deal was already signed, but it hasn’t been finalized yet.

    More WWE Contract News

    WWE has a few big contracts running up in 2024. Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins all have expiring deals. The company also closed out 2023 by securing a few big contracts.

    Charlotte Flair recently signed a hefty new contract. Also, Dominik Mysterio inked a new deal, as did his father, Rey Mysterio. WWE doesn’t want any Superstar entering the free agency pool that they want to keep around. Obviously, they don’t want Cody Rhodes going anywhere, either.

  • Watch: What Happened with Cody Rhodes After This Week’s WWE Raw?

    Watch: What Happened with Cody Rhodes After This Week’s WWE Raw?

    The American Nightmare was in an especially generous mood after this week’s episode of WWE Monday Night Raw went off the air. 

    This week’s episode of the Red brand was the final live show for the year, as next week’s Raw will be a compilation show celebrating the best of 2023. This week’s Raw saw the continuation of Seth Rollins’s feud with Drew McIntyre ahead of their pair’s World Heavyweight Championship match on the ‘Day 1’ episode of Raw. Katana Chance & Kayden Carter won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships this week, ending the reign of Chelsea Green and Piper Niven. 

    Cody Rhodes at Monday Night Raw

    The December 18, 2023, episode of Raw was not a good one for Cody Rhodes, who continues to be the victim of mind games by Shinsuke Nakamura. The Japanese Superstar was in a festive mood and read his poem ‘The American Nightmare Before Christmas, which featured several insults at Cody, including:

    “You b*stard, you cancer,
    You prancer you nitwit.
    You’re vomit, you’re stupid.
    Your father was inbred.”

    Rhodes would attack Nakamura for these comments, leading to a brawl that would be broken up by security. 

    Cody Rhodes After Monday Night Raw

    Despite this interaction with Nakamura, Rhodes was in a much better mood after this week’s Raw went off the air. In an off-air segment, Rhodes gifted an entire Christmas tree to a fan at ringside. 

    This isn’t the first time Rhodes has given something away after a WWE show. In the past, the American Nightmare has given away parts of a table broken during a stipulation match. 

  • Cody Rhodes’ Pick For MVP of 2023 Is Different Than Shawn Michaels

    Cody Rhodes’ Pick For MVP of 2023 Is Different Than Shawn Michaels

    Cody Rhodes believes Seth Rollins is the MVP of wrestling in 2023.

    2023 has been a strong year for WWE. The momentum gained after the COVID era has helped the company record some of its best financial numbers since the Attitude Era. A number of breakout performances from rookies and veterans alike have been one of the biggest catalysts of this unprecedented growth. 

    With names such as Gunther, LA Knight, Rhea Ripley and more contributing to this success, it’s hard to pick one name as the MVP performer of the year. One guy that seems to be on everyone’s radar more than others however, is Dominik Mysterio. 

    The son of wrestling legend Rey Mysterio has been able to carve a unique path for himself and he has received praise from many industry veterans for his growth this year. One such legend that has been impressed by Dirty Dom is Shawn Michaels, who picked the young star as his performer of the year during a recent interview.

    The American Nightmare was questioned about this pick while appearing on The Michael Kay Show and asked to name his own choice for the honor. Cody Rhodes said that for him, Seth Rollins is the real MVP of WWE in 2023:

    “That’s a loaded [question] because Dom is a prickly individual. If I was looking at it from tickets sold, merch sold, excitement over matches, genuine body of work, I’d say your MVP is…I’m not gonna say myself, somebody else hopefully will say me, but I’d say Seth Rollins, World Heavyweight Champion is probably somebody who’s more of the MVP.”

    ‘There Is Something Incredibly Special About The Young Man’: Cody Rhodes

    The WWE star didn’t take Michaels’ words lightly despite having a different opinion. He explained that there is something special about Dominik and proclaimed that his future is brighter than anybody else in the business:

    Who am I to go against what Shawn Michaels said though. If Shawn Michaels sees something in Dominik Mysterio. That’s huge, because he’s not one that often will make that claim. Dom is…as difficult as he is to get along with, he is incredibly linked to the audience.

    I have a feeling that if, Dom Mysterio walks out now, for those of you don’t watch WWE. He walks out and you can’t hear a word he’s saying because they boo him out of the building. I have a sense that Dom will be getting that same reaction two or three years from now but they won’t be boos, they’ll be cheers.

    There is something incredibly special about the young man and I’m sorry that I’ve had to beat him so many times. But I look forward to what he does. He comes from good stock, obviously. His future is perhaps brighter than anybody’s.”

    You can check out Cody Rhodes’ full interview below:

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    If you use any quotes from the article please credit The Michael Kay Show with an H/t to SEScoops for transcription

  • WWE Bringing Back Iconic Stipulation for Cody Rhodes’ MSG Match

    WWE Bringing Back Iconic Stipulation for Cody Rhodes’ MSG Match

    Cody Rhodes will face Shinsuke Nakamura at the upcoming WWE live event in Madison Square Garden, in a match we’ve not seen in WWE in over a decade. 

     In recent years, it has become a tradition for WWE to host an event inside the World’s Most Famous Arena on Boxing Day. This year will prove to be no different, with a special match planned for Nakamura and Rhodes. As first reported by Michael Kay of ESPN, the pair will face off in a Bull Rope match at the December 26 show.

    Rhodes had previously been scheduled to face ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio at the end. Instead, Mysterio will face CM Punk in the latter’s first WWE match since January 2014. 

    This match will mark Cody’s first bull rope match in WWE, and his second overall. He previously faced Jay Lethal in a bull rope match in ROH in 2017. This will mark Nakamura’s first bull rope match in his career. WWE’s most recent bull rope match took place in 2009 and saw Hornswoggle defeat Chavo Guerrero in under two minutes. A more competitive match took place in 2007 and saw Randy Orton face Cody’s father the ‘American Dream’ Dusty Rhodes. 

    WWE in Madison Square Garden

    Here is the card for the upcoming event inside Madison Square Garden: 

    • Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins (c) Vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
    • Finn Balor & Damian Priest (c) Vs. Sami Zayn & Jey Uso (Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)
    • CM Punk Vs. ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio
    • Cody Rhodes Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (Texas Bullrope Match)

    Other names being advertised include WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley, Becky Lynch, The New Day, Ricochet, Raquel Rodriguez, and Omos. 

  • Will MJF Sign With WWE? Cody Rhodes Believes “One Day”

    MJF will one day be known as a WWE Superstar, at least according to current WWE top star and AEW alum Cody Rhodes. 

    The reigning AEW World Champion has often teased moving to WWE, though these teases have stopped ever since he became an on-screen babyface. MJF did try out for WWE as part of 2011’s Tough Enough, and his video application is suspiciously still online on WWE’s YouTube channel. MJF also appeared as a security guard during a segment with Samoa Joe, which has been referenced as part of their AEW feud. 

    Cody Rhodes on MJF

    Though they are no longer in the same company, Cody Rhodes is keeping a close eye on the career of the AEW World Champion. During an interview with Peter Rosenburg, the American Nightmare was asked about MJF possibly joining WWE. 

    “I think one day you will see MJF in WWE. I think, one thing I’m really proud of him for is, for those who don’t know, MJF was one of my recruits. Probably the one I’m the most excited about just because [of] his potential, his personality; his overall professionalism is beaming. One thing I’m proud of him doing is, if you notice he’s put on a lot of muscle and he’s put it on safely over the last year and a half. And when he does make that jump, and I don’t know when that is, if he makes the jump. But if he comes to WWE he’ll have to stand across from guys like Drew McIntyre, you have to stand across from guys like Omos. Or, gosh, Brock Lesnar.”

    What’s Next? 

    While MJF could one day be a WWE Superstar, it isn’t likely to happen anytime soon. For all his teases of leaving, MJF reportedly signed a new AEW deal that will keep him around for years to come. One WWE source described MJF’s potential bidding war as “a completely in his head storyline.” His next AEW World Championship defense will come on December 30, against Samoa Joe at AEW Worlds End. 

    Cody Rhodes is currently in the midst of a feud with Shinsuke Nakamura. Rhodes has announced himself for the Men’s Royal Rumble match and hopes to become the fourth man to win back-to-back Royal Rumble matches. 

  • Cody Rhodes Could Be Looking to Revive His Father’s Wrestling Promotion

    Cody Rhodes Could Be Looking to Revive His Father’s Wrestling Promotion

    Cody Rhodes could be prepared to revive Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling, the promotion founded by his father ‘American Dream’ Dusty Rhodes. 

    Recently, Rhodes and his Nightmare Factory partner QT Marshall filed a trademark for the term ‘Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling’ for entertainment services and merchandising. The filing specifically refers to “wrestling contests” and “exhibits” as applicable to the TCW term. 

    Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling

    Dusty Rhodes started making plans for TCW in 1999 and would establish offices in East Cobb County, Georgia. At the time, Rhodes described his idea for the new promotion as “old school but with modern ideas.” The first TCW event took place in July 2000 and saw Glacier win a tournament to become the first TCW Heavyweight Champion. 

    The following year, TCW would host its first pay-per-view, and would also begin airing on TV. In March of 2001, Scott “The Clap” Anton and “The Extreme Dream” Erik Watts became the first TCW Tag Team Champions defeating Glacier and Jorge Estrada.

    With the demise of WCW and ECW, TCW welcomed talent that the WWF did not pick up. In an August 2001 interview with Greg Oliver, Dustin Rhodes had high praise for TCW. 

    “TCW is the alternative to the World Wrestling Federation. To me in my mind, my opinion, and my dad’s opinion, we are the World Wrestling Federation’s competition. We are not an independent, we are a company. We want to be treated as one.”

    The original TCW saw several notable names compete, including Scott Hall, ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan, New Jack, Leilani Kai, Daffney, and Steve Corino. Years before he’d make it big as part of TNA Wrestling, James Storm would compete during the latter stages of the company. 

    The Nightmare Factory

    The Nightmare Factory is Rhodes and Marshall’s training school based in Norcross, Georgia. Training seminars often feature notable names in professional wrestling, including Rhodes, Marshall, and Jerry Lynn. The Nightmare Factory is currently accepting applicants for their 2024 class. 

  • Mick Foley Picks His Royal Rumble Winner Between Cody Rhodes And CM Punk

    Mick Foley Picks His Royal Rumble Winner Between Cody Rhodes And CM Punk

    Mick Foley is hoping that Cody Rhodes will win Royal Rumble this year once again and finally finish his story.

    It’s rare for WWE to have more than a month’s gap between two PLEs. This year, however, the company has chosen not to run any main roster PPVs in 2023 after Survivor Series, giving the 2024 Royal Rumble more time to build up stories.

    The build-up for Royal Rumble includes many overlapping fueds. One such story is between CM Punk and Cody Rhodes, who are both looking to claim that ultimate WrestleMania spot by winning the Rumble.

    During a recent appearance on The Bump, Mick Foley was asked who he would like to win the ultimate Battle Royal between these two. The WWE Hall of Famer explained that fans are ready for Cody to finally win the world title:

    “I’d love to see Cody back in the main event picture. Yeah, I really would. I think that’s the perfect ending to his story. I know that fans were bitterly disappointed when Cody did not defeat Roman last year, but he went out on his own and he earned something more important than that WWE title. He earned the respect of all the naysayers.

    Brock Lesnar will put you through the ringer. When Brock shook his hand, unexpected, he meant it. He meant it. He’s not a back-padder. He’s not a feel good, people person. He really respected Cody for surviving that and the fans respected it. So now they’re even more ready for Cody to claim that ultimate prize.”

    Mick Foley Says Royal Rumble Is The Second Biggest PPV

    When asked for his advice for talents competing in the rumble, the Attitude Era star mentioned how he’s never won the match himself. Mick Foley, however, did explain that you can still create a memorable impression even if you don’t win the match:

    “Let me tell you a quick story. My son Hughie when he was about five. He knew his dad had been a wrestler but he wasn’t alive when I was wrestling. He goes ‘Dad, were you ever in the Royal Rumble?’ I figured I’m gonna grab on to this. I said ‘Not only was I in it, I was in it three times in one night as three different characters,’ And without missing a beat. He looked at me and said, ‘And you still couldn’t win?’ I can’t tell you how to win the rumble.

    I can tell you how to make a memorable impression in a rumble. It can only be one winner but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some memorable moments. It doesn’t mean that we can’t have one of the best nights of the year. My feeling is that five years running, I would say Royal Rumble became the second greatest show in WWE, all due respect to SummerSlam and the others.”

    You can check out Mick Foley’s appearance on The Bump Below:

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    If you use any quotes from the article please credit The Bump with an H/t to SEScoops for transcription

  • The Undertaker Shares Who He Feels Should Dethrone Roman Reigns

    The Undertaker Shares Who He Feels Should Dethrone Roman Reigns

    The Undertaker is one of the most iconic figures in WWE history. He recently shared his thoughts on who he thinks should defeat Roman Reigns and capture his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship belt.

    During a recent conversation with Ariel Helwani for BT Sport, the Dead Man said he believes the right person for this job is none other than Cody Rhodes.

    The American Nightmare returned from his injury at the Royal Rumble in January, and came out as the winner of the 30-man battle royale. He challenged Reigns for his title on the January 30 episode of Raw, for a match at WrestleMania 39.

    Is Cody Rhodes the man to dethrone Roman Reigns?

    The Undertaker recommending Cody Rhodes just goes to show how important it is to find the right competitor to defeat Reigns. Reigns has been a force to be reckoned with in the WWE for quite some time now. He has become the top dog in the company and bringing him down is something that needs a lot of planning and proper execution. It will also take someone who has the skills and charisma to pull it off and look believable. The wrestler should also have the staying power to take Reigns’ spot.

    It seems like Cody Rhodes fits the bill perfectly when it comes to all these things, according to The Undertaker. Rhodes has momentum in the company currently, has the fan support and is good in the ring as well as the mic. He could make for a believable Universal Champion. He has also proved his mettle during his tenure in AEW.

    Apart from Cody Rhodes, The Undertaker also mentioned Sami Zayn as a potential “dark horse” candidate to defeat Reigns. Zayn has been with the WWE for many years, and has had many highs and lows in his career. Being a reliable performer in the ring who WWE could trust, it would make sense why the Deadman himself would think Zayn is another good pick to take down Reigns.

  • Cody Rhodes Names Wrestler Who Would be Huge if he Returned to WWE

    Cody Rhodes Names Wrestler Who Would be Huge if he Returned to WWE

    Cody Rhodes knows firsthand what it’s like to depart from WWE, reinvent himself outside of the company bubble, and make a return to the promotion. Now, he wants to see Matt Cardona do just that. 

    Cardona was with WWE for several years until 2020 when he departed in 2020 before going to AEW that same year for a brief run. He went to Impact Wrestling in January 2022 where he found success. He also found a lot of success in GCW and NWA. He has held the GCW World Championship, the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship, the Impact Digital Media Championship, and several other titles.

    While speaking on Good Karma Wrestling, Cardona came up in the interview. Rhodes called him the king of the indies and wants to see him return to WWE. 

    Praise

    “I’m really proud of him,” Rhodes said. “He’s out there, he’s doing the Indy God thing with the Indiana Jones hats. Everything Matt’s doing, Matt has been the king of the indies now, this is going on year two. You only usually get one run in that role. He’s going on year two. What Matt does next is gonna be huge. If he goes to AEW, that’d be cool. But if he comes back to WWE, that’s what I want. It would be off the charts. I think he’s a huge get, a huge free agent, and he’s the best he’s ever been.

    Rhodes returned to WWE at WrestleMania 38 where he has since been pushed as a top star. He will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 39.

    H/T to WrestleZone for the transcription

  • All In Pay-Per-View Referenced on Latest WWE SmackDown on FOX

    All In Pay-Per-View Referenced on Latest WWE SmackDown on FOX

    The 2018 All In wrestling supershow was referenced during this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown on FOX.

    In September of that year, stars of various promotions came together to host the event, billed as “the biggest independent wrestling show ever.”

    After showing that there was support for a non-WWE product, many of the names associated with All In would go on to be part of All Elite Wrestling, which launched in January 2019.

    SmackDown

    One significant name who was part of All In is Cody Rhodes, who made an appearance on this week’s edition of the blue brand.

    Speaking about his upcoming WrestleMania match, Rhodes said there are those who think toppling Roman Reigns is an impossible goal, but he has a history of defying the odds.

    The American Nightmare said that there were people who believed he would never be more than Randy Orton’s lackey, referring to his days in Legacy.

    Rhodes added that there were some who thought that All In would be possible, saying:

    “There’s no way 10,000 people would pay to see my buddy’s little indie show.”

    Cody Rhodes.

    At the September 2018 event, Rhodes would defeat Nick Aldis to capture the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

    The event began after Dave Meltzer dismissed the idea that any event other than a WWE show could sell 10,000 tickets, a statement that Rhodes accepted as a challenge.

    Reigns Response

    Rhodes, as predicted, was very passionate with his promo, but the Tribal Chief had some barbs of his own.

    Speaking about being trained by Cody’s father Dusty Rhodes, Reigns bust-out an impressive impression of the American Dream, who told Reigns in developmental that he had ‘it.’

    The two men shook hands without coming to blows and agreed that the better man will win next month at WrestleMania 39.

    Watch: Uncle Howdy Gets Physical On SmackDown
  • Watch: What Happened With Cody Rhodes After SmackDown Went Off Air

    Watch: What Happened With Cody Rhodes After SmackDown Went Off Air

    Cody Rhodes made an appearance on this week’s episode of SmackDown to confront Roman Reigns. He also put on his 33-match undefeated streak on the line after the show went off air.

    The opening segment of this week’s SmackDown saw The American Nightmare confronting The Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. The two had a heated exchange that got personal.

    The WrestleMania opponents, however, avoided a fight before their upcoming big match. The segment ended with both the stars shaking hands.

    The main event of the show saw Sami Zayn competing in a bout against Solo Sikoa. Though this wasn’t the last match of the night and WWE presented two dark matches after SmackDown went off air.

    What Happened After SmackDown

    The first dark match after the show featured Charlotte Flair in action. The SmackDown Women’s Champion put her title on the line against Sonya Deville.

    The second dark match then saw Cody Rhodes, who has been undefeated since his return last year facing Finn Balor in a singles match.

    https://twitter.com/SMS2894/status/1631855561296822273

    The former AEW star went on to win the match against the Judgement Day Leader. Rhodes cut a promo after the bout and said that he hopes to leave WrestleMania as the Undisputed WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

  • Cody Rhodes Explains Why He May Never Want To Face Dustin Rhodes Again

    Cody Rhodes Explains Why He May Never Want To Face Dustin Rhodes Again

    Cody Rhodes thinks he may never share the ring with Dustin Rhodes again.

    The two brothers had a highly praised match at Double or Nothing 2019. It was one of the matches that helped put AEW on the map which was won by Cody. Though this wasn’t the first time the two wrestling stars went up against each other, as they previously shared the ring in WWE as well. The bout happened at Fastlane 2015 where Dustin, then known as Goldust picked up the win.

    With both the Rhodes family members having a win over the other, fans often wonder if we will ever get a third bout to cap things off. When asked about it on the AJ Awesome Show, Cody explained why he may never want to face his brother in a match again:

    “Great question. I could say 100% it would happen because that’s how families work. You find each other again. Or I could also say 0%.” said Cody Rhodes, “The reason I can say 0% is because Double or Nothing was such a difficult match for both of us. It was widely respected by the industry. It was really special to us both [and] very hard to top as far as against one another.

    ‘He Has Earned The Right To Walk Away’: Cody Rhodes

    Cody Rhodes mentioned how Dustin has earned the right to walk away on his own terms. According to him, he wouldn’t want to hamper that by trying to get another match out of his brother:

    “Also I again, he has earned the right as a wrestler – who is a Hall of Fame level wrestler – He has earned the right to walk away. I wouldn’t want to hamper that or handicap it in any sense trying to get one last one out of him. So really, it’ll definitely happen or definitely won’t happen Because there’s nowhere in the middle on a repeat of something with us. I myself, I love what he’s doing now. I’m very proud of him and Dakota his daughter [who is a] photographer in the industry now. She’s in the family biz too. So very proud of what he’s been able to do and just unbelievable legacies left.

    I don’t cite him or credit him enough as one of my favorites growing up because he’s my brother, but absolutely one of my favorites. One of the highest honors I ever had was Double or Nothing. Because it meant a lot not just to each other, but it’s very important for what was starting there. That needed to happen for it to exist and it happened.”

    You can check out Cody Rhodes’ full interview below:

    More Originals From SEScoops:

    If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

  • Cody Rhodes Says WWE Star Reminds Him Of Dusty Rhodes

    Cody Rhodes Says WWE Star Reminds Him Of Dusty Rhodes

    Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes are two very different kind of performers. Cody meticulously plans every part of his promo and he knows everything he is going to do in a match ahead of time. Kevin on the other hand is known for his spontaneous reactions. His ring awareness and the ability to adapt to things is one of the major reasons behind his popularity. This is probably also the reason why Owens reminds Rhodes of his father.

    The American Nightmare recently had an interview with The AJ Awesome Show. He talked about the former Universal champion during the interview and claimed that Kevin Owens reminds him of the late great Dusty Rhodes:

    “Kevin’s just a natural at everything. He’s one of those types that reminds me a lot of my dad. It’s funny cause I don’t remind myself of my dad at all but Kevin is one of those [that makes you go] ‘Yeah, he reminds me a lot of Dusty in a way’ and they had a little bond themselves.”

    – Cody Rhodes via AJ Awesome Show

    Owens and Rhodes are both involved in a multi-layered storyline with The Bloodline heading into WrestleMania. Cody won the Royal Rumble and he is set to challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed Universal Championship in the main event of the show. Owens is working with Sami Zayn and they are expected to challenge The Usos for the Undisputed Tag Titles at the event.

    Apart from this, Cody Rhodes also talked about his plans after WrestleMania 39 and more. You can check out his full interview below:

    More Originals From SEScoops:

    If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

  • Cody Rhodes Going to SmackDown for Roman Reigns

    Cody Rhodes Going to SmackDown for Roman Reigns

    Ever since Cody Rhodes won the Royal Rumble, Roman Reigns has been dodging him. Although he’s acknowledged him in a promo, Reigns has sent “The Wise Man” Paul Heyman on his behalf.

    Rhodes has even said he was open to the possibility of adding Sami Zayn to their match at WrestleMania 39. However, WWE has reportedly been concerned about Zayn being so over with the fans and that it might hurt Rhodes leading into his match with Reigns.

    Cody Rhodes Going to Reigns

    Paul Heyman:Cody Rhodes
    Via BT Sports

    After defeating Chad Gable, Rhodes looked in the camera to address Reigns directly.

    “He is on SmackDown this Friday and I am ecstatic that Roman Reigns is on SmackDown this Friday because I’ll be there too.”

    WWE is promoting Rhodes as “being in the same building” as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.

    Do you think Reigns and Rhodes will actually come face to face on Friday? Or do you think Heyman will prevent it?

  • WWE Expected to Pursue Several Top AEW Stars This Year

    WWE Expected to Pursue Several Top AEW Stars This Year

    WWE will seek out the very top names from All Elite Wrestling to add to their roster over the next 12 months, it has been claimed.

    Since AEW was founded in 2019, Tony Khan’s promotion has welcomed plenty of former Superstars, thanks in part to WWE’s mass layoffs of talent.

    FTR, Miro, Andrade El Idolo and Bryan Danielson are just some of the names in AEW who were calling WWE home not too long ago,

    Go Hard

    The next 12 months will see several current AEW deals expire, with World Champion MJF openly teasing leaving the promotion in January 2024.

    FTR, who are currently taking a break from AEW, are also expected to have their deals expire within a matter of months.

    On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated that a lot of “key deals” will expire this year, and WWE is going to “go hard at everyone good.”

    On the flip side, Meltzer added that there are a lot of WWE contracts ending this year, and AEW will likely make a play for some names.

    With that said, it was added that right now the “perception” of WWE talent is to not go to AEW, despite the company’s lighter schedule.

    AEW experienced several setbacks in 2022, at a time when the WWE product was noticeably improving under Triple H’s leadership.

    Cody Rhodes

    While AEW is home to some WWE alum, the biggest move saw Cody Rhodes part ways with Tony Khan to return to WWE last year.

    On his show, Meltzer added that Cody’s treatment since returning to WWE could prove to be an incentive for others to jump ship.

    Speaking about Kenny Omega, whose AEW contract is expected to end in late 2023, Meltzer said that Khan losing Omega would be “really, really bad.”

    It was noted that Omega is in a “very good position” as both AEW will offer him a lot to stay, and WWE will offer him plenty to join them.

    Details on Jon Moxley’s 5-Year AEW Contract Extension
  • WWE Cautious About Balancing Cody Rhodes’ Storyline with Sami Zayn’s Popularity

    WWE Cautious About Balancing Cody Rhodes’ Storyline with Sami Zayn’s Popularity

    Sami Zayn’s immense popularity has reportedly become cause for concern behind-the-scenes in WWE.

    At WrestleMania 39, Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns will lock horns with Royal Rumble-winner Cody Rhodes. ‘The American Nightmare’ has been a big hit with WWE audiences since he returned at last year’s WrestleMania.

    Cody Rhodes backstage at Royal Rumble

    Rhodes’ Hell in a Cell bout with Seth Rollins last year solidified him as a top dog in waiting. His return last month was greeted with huge cheers and his segments with Paul Heyman and Sami Zayn in the weeks since have garnered critical acclaim.

    However, Zayn’s own rise to babyface stardom appears to be threatening Rhodes’. After a slow-burning run as ‘The Honorary Uce’ in The Bloodline, Zayn turned on faction head Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble. The segment and subsequent feud between the pair was highlighted as a strong ratings mover for WWE in 2023.

    Sami Zayn at Elimination Chamber

    While the rivalry seemingly came to an end at Elimination Chamber, there are concerns that Zayn’s connection with the audience could potentially derail the Reigns/Rhodes build.

    “They Were Very Concerned About Sami Chants” – Dave Meltzer On Cody Rhodes Segment

    On a recent edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer discussed the segment Cody Rhodes had with Paul Heyman on this week’s RAW. He revealed that the pacing of the segment was designed to give fans little breathing room to potentially launch chants for Sami Zayn into the situation.

    “The stuff with Cody and Heyman – they [WWE] were very concerned about Sami chants, which is one of the reasons why they got Heyman out there in seconds. They did not want Cody in there by himself because they thought that – it didn’t happen – but they did everything in their power to make sure they kept that moving, they did not allow the audience a chance to start chanting or anything like that, it was just back-and-forth.”

    Meltzer went on to add that the general consensus is that Zayn chants potentially hijacking the show would hinder Rhodes’ momentum.

    “It was designed to give the audience no chance to chant because of the feeling that if they did it would hurt Cody’s momentum. And perhaps it would, and then it could create that groundswell [for Zayn] which is exactly what they don’t want right now.”

    ‘The American Nightmare’ himself later commented on the segment. Seemingly in kayfabe at first, Rhodes joked about the segment being cut short due to Heyman getting under his skin during the exchange. The son of a son of a plumber then made mention of his high merchandise sales of late.

    Do you think Cody Rhodes will go over Roman Reigns at WrestleMania?

    All quotes from WrestleTalk.

  • Teddy Long Says Cody Rhodes Can Outshine John Cena Any Day

    Teddy Long Says Cody Rhodes Can Outshine John Cena Any Day

    Teddy Long believes that Cody Rhodes has the ability to outshine someone like John Cena any day.

    The WWE Hall Of Famer recently took part in an interview with Sportskeeda’s Riju Dasgupta, where he was asked about Cody Rhodes and his current rise to the top of the WWE card since making his return.

    Long had nothing but praise for “The American Nightmare,” going as far as saying that Rhodes could outshine WWE legend John Cena “any day.”

    “In my opinion, I think Cody Rhodes can certainly outshine John Cena any day. He’s a great competitor. I’ve known Cody Rhodes since he was a little bitty boy playing on the softball team.

    “His father, Dusty Rhodes, God rest his soul, gave me my first job, so I never will forget that, but Cody Rhodes, I guarantee you, will outshine John Cena any day.”

    Cody Rhodes won the 2023 Royal Rumble

    Rhodes has certainly had a tremendous run since returning to WWE. He made a surprise return to the company last year at WrestleMania, being revealed as Seth Rollins’ surprise opponent at the event.

    This marked the beginning of a tremendous rivalry between the pair, which ultimately ended with a pectoral injury for Rhodes that forced him to be sidelined for the next several months.

    Rhodes made his triumphant return at the Royal Rumble last month, winning the Men’s Royal Rumble match and punching his ticket to the WrestleMania 39 main event.

    Now, he’s slated to headline the card against Roman Reigns, challenging for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. If he wins, he’ll be the first of his family to win a WWE World Title.

    Quotes via WrestlingNews.co

  • Cody Rhodes Walks Back WrestleMania Comment About The Rock

    Cody Rhodes Walks Back WrestleMania Comment About The Rock

    Cody Rhodes is walking back his recent WrestleMania comment about The Rock.

    Earlier this month, Rhodes noted that, in regards to rumors of The Rock coming back to face off against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39, the options WWE has at the moment without “The Great One” are even better.

    However, it looks like now Rhodes is walking those comments back a bit. Speaking to Sports Illustrated, Rhodes said if The Rock can make it to WrestleMania in any capacity, he’d love for it to happen.

    He added that he has a ton of respect for The Rock and everything he’s done for the industry – allowing them to have a WrestleMania at all.

    “I said the other day, and I said it in a pretty nice way, ‘all respect to the Rock, I like what we have.’ I’m going to walk that one back. WrestleMania is amazing. If Rock decides to come to WrestleMania, please.

    “Simply because, we’re able to have WrestleMania because of someone like The Rock, and Rock was able to have WrestleMania because of somebody like (Hulk) Hogan, and because of the Dustys [Dusty Rhodes], the Flairs [Ric Flair], the Pipers [Roddy Piper].

    “Our industry doesn’t just exist, the content is so important in keeping it healthy and keeping it going and respecting these long-time fans. I hope I didn’t talk out of turn because I absolutely adore The Rock and would love it if he was present in any setting.

    “His family is massively important to what we do and if Rock decides to show up to WrestleMania, Hollywood would love that. I will say, if Rock doesn’t come to WrestleMania, we have an unbelievable card, if not the best ever, at the biggest ever in terms of the financials, the gates, two days in Hollywood. It’s a win-win.”

    WWE

    Rhodes won this year’s Men’s Royal Rumble match, punching his ticket to the main event of WrestleMania 39 in Los Angeles, California. He’ll challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.

    Of course, those plans could always change, as Reigns will first defend his titles against Sami Zayn at the upcoming Elimination Chamber PLE. It remains to be seen if the eventual World Title match at WrestleMania could turn into a Triple Threat match given the popularity of Sami Zayn and The Bloodline storyline.

    Quotes via NoDQ.com

  • Cody Rhodes Planning Indie Wrestling Tribute at Future WWE Premium Live Event

    Cody Rhodes Planning Indie Wrestling Tribute at Future WWE Premium Live Event

    Cody Rhodes could be just 45 days away from becoming the next Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, but the American Nightmare hasn’t forgotten where he’s come from.

    After choosing to part ways with WWE in 2016, Rhodes took his talents to various independent promotions and increased his star power outside WWE.

    It was as a much bigger star that Rhodes founded AEW, and the person once considered mid-card for life returned to WWE as a main eventer in April 2022.

    Tribute

    As we’ve seen in his promos about his father and his exceptional segment earlier this month with Paul Heyman, history means everything to Cody Rhodes.

    While speaking to Peter Rosenberg on Hot 97, Cody stated that he hopes to honor all the independent promotions during his WWE absence.

    “Small spoiler, I guess, I was trying to come up with this idea for a weight belt for a very specific P.L.E. or pay-per-view, whatever you wanna call it where I wrote everybody independent promotion I worked at on it, because that was the most important thing I did was this connection with these fans and getting to know them and grassroots and that became really my bread and butter.”

    Cody Rhodes.

    WrestleMania

    While Rhodes didn’t specify which event he planned this tribute on, the most likely guess would be WrestleMania 39.

    On the show, Rhodes will face Roman Reigns and looks to dethrone the Tribal Chief, who is now in his 900th day as WWE Universal Champion.

    If Cody goes ahead with this tribute, it will be interesting to see what WWE allows, as Cody has worked for some pretty big names (and competition to WWE) including AEW and Impact Wrestling.

    Roman Reigns Responds To Emotional Cody Rhodes – Sami Zayn Segment

    h/t – BodySlam