10 Things You Didn't Know About AEW's Cody Rhodes
"In 2013, Rhodes (who admits to having no love for the IC title's previous appearance) revealed that he himself paid for the belt to be redesigned, while also adding that he ended up getting reimbursed for his considerable purchase..."
The Cody Rhodes we see today represents change as one of the faces of All Elite Wrestling, the strongest start-up that the American wrestling audience has seen in close to two decades.
Rhodes has come a long way in the four years since he requested his WWE release, betting himself to do better than his secure-but-unsatisfying lot with the sports entertainment giant. Those who thought Dusty's youngest son would fall on his face are surely surprised at where he stands here in the year 2020 - the reigning TNT Champion, of course, having toppled the dominant Lance Archer back at Double Or Nothing in May.
As "The American Nightmare" helps lead the way for pro wrestling's promising powerhouse, let's learn a little bit more about Pharoah's proud papa...
10. Family Ties
Even if his famous last name is absent from his current professional handle, much ado has been made of Cody Rhodes' wrestling relatives. When you're the son of "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, and the half-brother of Dustin Rhodes, those sort of connections will receive plenty of mention, whether or not they find a place in on-screen storylines. While the Dusty/Dustin/Cody triumvirate has been well established, the truth is, Cody has *other* relatives in the business, and we're not just talking wife Brandi.
Cody has two uncles who, in the early 1990s, held Tag Team gold in WWE, both of them brothers-in-law of Dusty. One would be Nasty Boy Jerry Sags, and the other Fred Ottman, the superheavyweight who portrayed Tugboat, Typhoon, and, yes, The Shockmaster. Additionally, Magnum TA, one of the most promising stars of the 1980s prior to a car accident ending his career, is a godfather to Cody. Being Dusty's son, you assume so much wrestling would permeate through your life, and apparently, that includes family barbecues as well.
Written by Justin Henry
In addition to writing lists and commentaries for Cultaholic, Justin is also a features writer and interviewer for Fighting Spirit Magazine, and is co-author of the WWE-related book Titan Screwed: Lost Smiles, Stunners, and Screwjobs.
