Cody Rhodes

His triumphant, highly anticipated return to WWE after a six-year hiatus in 2022 has had a much more significant impact on the state of professional wrestling than anyone could have expected. Cody Rhodes has been on a deserving rise to ultimate stardom since leaving a rival company he helped create and returning to where his career began after abruptly leaving to bet on himself in the indies. That was proven to be the right choice, as he has since won back-to-back Royal Rumbles, main evented WrestleMania, including both nights at WrestleMania 40, and is on pace to accomplish that again next year. The WWE Universe rallied around the longtime underdog and embraced the new face of the company uniquely and passionately, further solidifying his spot at the top of the wrestling industry. Rhodes’ rise from undesirable to undeniable is a story as old as time and will continue to dominate the wrestling industry for years to come.

As if headlining both nights of wrestling’s own Super Bowl wasn’t incredible enough, Cody Rhodes made WrestleMania 40 even better by finally taking down the “Tribal Chief,” Roman Reigns, after he held the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship for 1,316 days. It was a night Rhodes will remember, overcoming the impossible odds stacked against him and finally becoming the champion. But the memory will last a lifetime for those who have supported him throughout his journey to the top.

WWE is the hottest it has been since the “Attitude Era” in the early 2000s, selling out arenas worldwide at a record rate. Not only that, Cody Rhodes is one of the leading reasons for its popularity, which continues to grow as he works a grueling schedule and always takes time to interact with fans at every show. He’s consistently a top-seller among all athletes on Fanatics, and his connection with wrestling fans is unparalleled. The industry has become cool again, and Rhodes is the reason.