Cody Rhodes is an American professional wrestler, promoter, and TV personality, best known today as one of WWE’s top main‑event stars and the son of wrestling legend Dusty Rhodes.

Quick Scoop: Who Is Cody Rhodes?

  • Full name: Cody Garrett Runnels Rhodes.
  • Born: June 30, 1985, in Marietta, Georgia, USA.
  • Occupation: Professional wrestler, formerly an executive vice president in All Elite Wrestling (AEW), occasional reality‑TV personality.
  • Ring name: Cody Rhodes (sometimes simply “Cody” during his post‑WWE indie years).
  • Nickname/gimmick: “The American Nightmare,” a play on his father Dusty Rhodes’ “American Dream” persona.

In simple terms: he’s the second‑generation star who left WWE, helped shake up the wrestling business with AEW, then came back to WWE and rose into its main event scene.

Wrestling Roots and Family

  • Cody is the son of WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, one of the most influential wrestlers and bookers in history.
  • He is the half‑brother of Dustin Rhodes (Goldust), another long‑time WWE and AEW name.
  • As a teenager, Cody was a successful amateur wrestler and became a two‑time Georgia state champion before going fully into pro wrestling.

These family ties gave him instant name recognition, but they also set the bar extremely high for his own career.

Career Path: WWE → Indies/NJPW/ROH → AEW → WWE Return

Early WWE run

  • Debut system: Started in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), a WWE developmental territory, winning the OVW Heavyweight, Television, and Southern Tag Team titles (a “Triple Crown” there).
  • Main roster debut: Joined WWE’s main shows in 2007, initially on Raw.
  • Early accolades:
    • Two‑time Intercontinental Champion.
* Six WWE tag‑team titles across World Tag Team and WWE Tag Team Championships with multiple partners.

He experimented with several characters, from a cocky “Dashing” pretty‑boy to a masked, darker persona, but felt creatively restricted by the mid‑card ceiling.

Leaving WWE and reinventing himself

  • In 2016 he requested his release from WWE and left the company.
  • On the independent and international scene he wrestled for:
    • New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).
    • Ring of Honor (ROH).
    • Impact/TNA.
    • Numerous indie promotions worldwide.
  • During this period he:
    • Often used just “Cody” because WWE held the “Cody Rhodes” trademark.
* Adopted “The American Nightmare” identity and became a consistent main‑eventer outside WWE.

* Won the ROH World Championship, ROH World Six-Man Tag Titles, and the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.

This era built his reputation as a serious, big‑match performer rather than just “Dusty’s kid.”

All In and AEW

  • In 2018 he co‑produced the indie supershow All In alongside The Young Bucks, a risky bet on non‑WWE wrestling that sold out quickly and showed the market for an alternative.
  • That success directly led to the creation of All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in 2019, where Cody became:
    • A founding executive vice president.
    • A top in‑ring star on TV.
    • A central figure in positioning AEW as a major rival to WWE.
  • In AEW he:
    • Became the first TNT Champion and held that title three times.
* Worked high‑profile feuds, including a celebrity crossover match involving former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal.

AEW made him both an on‑screen star and a behind‑the‑scenes decision‑maker, which is unusual for someone his age.

Return to WWE and top‑star run

  • Cody left AEW in early 2022 and re‑signed with WWE shortly after.
  • He re‑debuted at WrestleMania 38 as Seth Rollins’ surprise opponent, establishing himself instantly as a major attraction.
  • A torn pectoral muscle led to a famously brutal Hell in a Cell match where he wrestled with a heavily bruised chest, further adding to his “fighting through pain” aura.
  • Since returning, he has:
    • Won back‑to‑back Royal Rumbles in 2023 and 2024.
    • Captured the WWE Championship twice, becoming WWE’s 34th Triple Crown Champion.
    • Won tournaments like King of the Ring 2025 and an inaugural Crown Jewel title.
    • Headlined multiple WrestleManias, including shows against John Cena and Roman Reigns across successive years.

In storyline terms, much of his arc is framed around “finishing the story” by winning the world title his father never held.

Outside the Ring and Media Presence

  • Television:
    • Judge on the stunt‑competition series Go-Big Show.
* Starred with his wife Brandi Rhodes on the reality series _Rhodes to the Top_ , documenting their lives around AEW.
  • Brand and persona:
    • Known for emotional, “heart on his sleeve” promos.
    • Presented often as a classic babyface (hero) who leans into family legacy, patriotism, and resilience.

This combination makes him appealing both to long‑time fans who remember Dusty and to newer fans who discovered him post‑AEW.

Current Discourse and “Latest News” Vibes

Cody Rhodes remains a central figure in WWE’s main‑event picture and broader wrestling discourse.

Recent and ongoing talking points around him include:

  • Booking and title reign debates
    A notable chunk of fan and analyst discussion in 2025 focused on whether his long title run felt too “safe” or over‑produced, with some arguing that his reign emphasized polished, corporate storytelling over raw unpredictability.
  • “The savior” narrative backlash
    Some long‑form analysis argues that while Cody ending Roman Reigns’ historic run and fronting a “new era” initially felt cathartic, the follow‑up booking made him feel more like a carefully managed corporate face than a revolutionary champion.
  • Ongoing rivalries
    Storylines against top names like John Cena and Drew McIntyre have been used to test and sometimes deconstruct his status as the face of WWE’s current direction, fueling forum and social‑media debates about whether he’s the right long‑term centerpiece.

On forums and fan channels, you’ll often see split views: some see him as the emotional heart of modern WWE; others feel the character is overexposed or too “manufactured.”

TL;DR: Cody Rhodes is a second‑generation star who left WWE, helped launch AEW as an EVP and top talent, then returned to WWE to become a multiple‑time world champion and one of the faces of the company, all while carrying the weight of Dusty Rhodes’ legacy and sparking constant discussion about how modern wrestling should be booked.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.