There’s something about the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that feels larger than life, even if you’re not a hardcore racing fan. The behemoth of a facility isn’t merely a giant stadium cum racetrack; it’s a place where history, speed, and tradition collide. Over the years, it’s drawn celebrities, athletes, and legends from every corner of the globe, all coming to pay homage to its deep and storied legacy. And recently, WWE Champion Cody Rhodes added his name to that list.

Ahead of his heavily anticipated Royal Rumble match this weekend, the wrestling star made a stop at the Speedway to take part in one of its most iconic traditions. But what’s the story behind this tradition, and why does it mean so much?

Cody Rhodes kisses the bricks and finds it dope

Picture this: Cody Rhodes, the WWE Champion, kneeling at the start-finish line of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, pressing his lips to the famed Yard of Bricks. It’s a moment that feels both surreal and deeply respectful. In a video posted by Seth Eggert, Rhodes can be seen soaking it all in.

“That’s what you do? That’s pretty dope,” he says afterward, his voice tinged with genuine admiration. And honestly, who can blame him? Here’s a guy who’s no stranger to grand stages and larger-than-life moments, yet even he’s humbled by this simple act of kissing a strip of bricks.

But let’s rewind for a second. How did this tradition even start? Surprisingly, it wasn’t born in IndyCar. Nope, it began in NASCAR. Back in 1996, Dale Jarrett, fresh off a victory at the Brickyard 400, decided to celebrate in a way no one had before. Along with his crew chief Todd Parrott, Jarrett knelt down and kissed the bricks at the start-finish line. It was a spontaneous gesture, but it stuck. Soon, drivers from both NASCAR and IndyCar were following suit, making it one of the most cherished traditions in motorsport.

And those bricks aren’t any old bricks. When the Speedway was first built in 1909, it was paved entirely with them—3.2 million, to be exact. Over time, asphalt replaced most of the surface, but a three-foot strip of the original bricks was left intact at the start-finish line. Today, it’s a symbol of the Speedway’s enduring legacy, and kissing it is a way for drivers—and now, even WWE superstars—to connect with that history.

In 2023, Cody Rhodes met Dale Jr. for his podcast. There they spoke about their mutual respect for each other’s fathers. It was during his visit to the same place and in the podcast, he added “You know it’s funny. We’ve got family in Texas, family in Florida, family in Georgia, family all over the place.”

So, what’s next for Cody Rhodes after this humbling experience? Well, let’s just say his weekend is about to get a lot more intense.

Royal Rumble drama: Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens, and the ladder match

While Cody Rhodes was busy paying homage to motorsport history, his focus was firmly on the future. This weekend’s Royal Rumble, held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, is one of WWE’s biggest events of the year. And for Rhodes, it’s a chance to defend his WWE Championship against Kevin Owens in what promises to be a brutal ladder match.

Now, if you’ve been following this rivalry, you know it’s been months in the making. Owens, a veteran of the WWE grind, has come up short twice in his attempts to dethrone Rhodes—first at Bash in Berlin 2024 and again at Saturday Night’s Main Event last month. But Owens isn’t one to back down. After his latest loss, he attacked Rhodes and delivered a devastating Package Piledriver, ramping up the stakes for their Royal Rumble showdown.

Adding fuel to the fire is Owens’ claim that he’s the “true WWE champion.” During a recent contract signing, Owens stole the winged eagle-design WWE championship belt that Rhodes was gifted by WWE Legend and chief content officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque. Owens has since been parading around with the belt, insisting that he’s the rightful owner. At the Royal Rumble, both titles will be hanging above the ring, and the only way to win is to climb the ladder and grab them.

But here’s the twist: Rhodes has more than just Owens to worry about. His ally, Sami Zayn, has been acting… suspiciously. Zayn, a longtime friend (and frenemy) of Owens, has recently botched a couple of Helluva Kicks, accidentally hitting Seth Rollins and Rhodes in the process. Owens has been quick to capitalize on the tension, offering Zayn a deal: if Zayn helps Owens win at the Royal Rumble, they’ll main-event WrestleMania together.

Will Zayn turn on Rhodes? Or is this just another twist in the ongoing saga of friendship, betrayal, and championship gold?

However, the Royal Rumble isn’t just about Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens. It’s one of WWE’s most anticipated events, a night of surprises, drama, and high-stakes action. The winners of the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches earn the right to challenge for a world championship at much awaited WrestleMania 41.

On the men’s side, all eyes are on Rhodes and Owens, but the Rumble match itself is always a wildcard. Will we see shocking returns? Surprise debuts? And what about CM Punk, who recently promised to “stab Rhodes from the front”? The possibilities are endless.

For the women, Rhea Ripley and Tiffany Stratton are the reigning champions, but the Rumble match could shake things up in a big way. With 30 competitors in each match, anything can happen—and usually does.