During NASCAR’s 50th anniversary back in 1998, the governing bodies sanctioned a panel of drivers for the 50 greatest drivers in NASCAR history. Recently, in 2023, 25 more drivers were added to the list, and guess what? The two-time Xfinity Series champion and 15-time Most Popular Driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr, is among them. It’s definitely a lifetime achievement for the retired NASCAR speedster. However, there is a reason why Dale Earnhardt Jr. is such a big name in NASCAR.

It all comes down to the extent to which this 48-year-old man has promoted stock car racing through his media house, Dirty Mo Media, and, with that, across the horizons of other sports like WWE. Besides that, he has taken NASCAR to even greater heights with ‘Lost Speedways’, an exploration of the underlying secrets revolving around the great racetracks of the past, on Comcast’s streaming platform, Peacock.

Dale Earnhardt Jr receives a gift that every WWE fan has craved at least once in their lifetimes

A question to all the WWE fanatics out there: Do you remember the time when John Cena lifted the 510-pound Big Show and slammed him not once but twice to win the US Championship in 2004? Of course, you do. Then you must also remember the shiny WrestleMania belt that he lifted after his victory and screamed at the top of his voice.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. got his hands on one such belt, sitting right in the Bojangles studio. Although he did not have to choke-slam anyone, this one was extra special for a different reason.

Last week, Dale Earnhardt Jr invited Cody Rhodes, the son of the late WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, to his podcast. Flaunting two Intercontinental Championships and six Tag Team Championships over the period of 2008–2016, the 6 ft. 2 in. wrestler and actor expects to make a comeback to the WWE rings. The two stalwarts from the two kinds of sports had a long discussion about various things, unfurling a series of behind-the-scenes stories.

When WWE sent him the high-quality belt, Dale Earnhardt Jr. felt ecstatic. He said, ” It says Washington commanders. It’s got all the logos, the Washington championship years in the crest, and all that.” As his co-host and friend Mike Davis wondered where they would put the belt, Dale Junior seemed to have already figured out a place for it. That’s right, on his shoulders, where they should be!

The JR Motorsports owner felt extremely grateful for the exclusive gift from the WWE. He exclaimed, “Monday night this week on RAW, the WWE even promoted the podcast that we did with Cody Rhodes. I know that Cody influenced that to some degree, so we’re very thankful of Cody.”

“The whole WWE team, everyone at Dirty Mo Media had said nothing but amazing things about how great they are to work with, how easy they are to work with… (how) eager they are to cross-promote,” he admitted.

Watch this story: Running Balls Deep – Dale Earnhardt Jr Takes Jab at Richard Petty

Such a happy melange between the two worlds, through two of their most famous athletes However, do you know what it takes to earn fame in the WWE?

Cody Rhodes revealed what it takes to be a famous WWE wrestler

There are several wrestlers who have quite intriguing stage names, like Stone Cold, The Boogeyman, and Triple H, to name a few. However, one cannot just assume a name and expect it to go viral among the fans. It takes a lot more than just a catchy name to build one’s authority in the ring.

Hard work and consistency. Two words that go hand in hand to determine success in any profession out there. And it is not any different for pro wrestling.

Cody Rhodes admitted that it was the details. Say you have a great name in mind for yourself. It will not work unless you have the details regarding why you think that should be your name or how that name is relevant to your identity.

“The devil is in the details,” said Rhodes, “When you fully know every aspect of who you are out there, whether you are created by someone else or whether you found yourself, you have a different level of confidence.”

And the fundamental rule is to be on TV on a regular basis. A rookie wrestler must go out every night into the ring in a way that the audience has never experienced before. However, it takes time. According to Cody Rhodes, it takes a minimum of a year or two to earn a name in the WWE and get popular.

Read more: “I Don’t Have the Same Warmth”: Cody Rhodes Tells Dale Earnhardt Jr About the Struggles of Filling His Father’s Shoes

“They can’t cheer for your moves if they don’t know your moves. They can’t cheer for your catchphrase unless they hear it on a regular basis. If you’re not given the time, that opportunity won’t come,” explained Rhodes.