Several wrestlers have had an improved run in the WWE since making their comeback. One among them is Cody Rhodes. The American Nightmare is currently in his second stint in the Stamford-based promotion. The 38-year-old made a triumphant return after six years in 2022 at WrestleMania 38. He marked his second run in the company with a win against Seth Rollins. While Rhodes’ career has since headed north, he recently picked the moment that made him feel at home in WWE.
He revealed it in a chat with pro wrestling journalist Sean Ross Sapp ahead of SummerSlam 2023.
Cody Rhodes divulges the reason why it’s fun to come back to WWE
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Since his comeback, Rhodes had to sit out once more due to an injury he sustained in mid-2022. He came back at Royal Rumble 2023 and won the event. Rhodes used the opportunity to challenge Roman Reigns for the latter’s Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. While he didn’t win the main event bout at SoFi Stadium, Rhodes is now in the title hunt and a top-tier talent in WWE.
The months following WrestleMania were even bigger for him, as he started a feud with Brock Lesnar. In a grueling feud that last for three matches, The Prince of Pro Wrestling won it 2-1. His last win was at SummerSlam, where he conquered The Beast after sustaining pain for 17 minutes. After the win, Lesnar broke character to embrace Rhodes and even raised the 38-year-old’s arm as a sign of acknowledgement.
While these are big moments in Cody Rhodes’ revamped WWE career, he chose the RAW after WrestleMania 38 to be the watershed moment. The event emanated from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. “Night after WrestleMania in Dallas. Night after WrestleMania in Dallas, I saw so many kids in the crowd who didn’t care about what I had done for three years or the ten years before that,” Rhodes said.
“It’s why guys and girls get into it and it’s why it’s hard to walk away and why it’s so fun to come back. That night at WrestleMania, I knew something special was happening and I’m here for it,” he added.
While he failed to strike a chord with his past gimmicks, especially as Stardust, his current run as The American Nightmare is one of the most popular in the WWE currently. And while he’s at the height of popularity, this could just go up. Here’s why.
Cody Rhodes is likely set for massive gains
On the RAW after ‘Mania 2023 episode, it made little sense for Brock Lesnar to attack Cody Rhodes. But it happened and thus a new rivalry was born, burying the old ones that Rhodes had with Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. It was frustrating to see Lesnar attacking Rhodes without a proper premise.
But like so many WWE storylines in the past, this one grew on you. So much so that a section of the crowd was interested to see what happens at SummerSlam during their match. The outcome was more or less predictable, yet the two superstars managed to put up a good show. Lesnar’s final touch was the icing on the cake.
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When Brock Lesnar acknowledges you, it’s bound to bolster your credibility as a wrestler. This is a tried and tested formula. The promotion used it to make John Cena a more potent champion nearly a decade ago. Now they did it with Rhodes. With that, his claim for Reigns’ title, who is still the champion, looks more legitimate than ever.
Having defeated Lesnar, it won’t look out of sorts for Rhodes to go over Reigns, possibly at WrestleMania 40. If he manages to win, with odds favoring him highly, Dusty Rhodes’ younger son will finally manage to capture the title that has evaded the Rhodes family for decades.
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Safe to say, it could well be Cody Rhodes’ new favorite moment following his return in 2022.
Watch This Story: Brock Lesnar And Cody Rhodes Set A Vital Precondition Ahead Of SummerSlam Showdown
