Roman Reigns Respects Cody Rhodes For Leaving WWE

They may be on-screen rivals but Roman Reigns has admitted he respects Cody Rhodes for leaving WWE in 2016, with Reigns noting that he doesn't think he would have been able to do what Cody did.

Reigns told ESPN ahead of his and Cody's WrestleMania 39 match.

"It's going to sound a little weird because, in our heated exchanges, I said some things, and I stand by them. From my perspective, he ran. Plain and simple. On the other side, he did something very resilient. He did something that, and that's one of the things that maybe bothers me or concerns me the most about him...I don't know if I would be willing or if I could do what he did. As a man, I don't like that. I want to feel like I can do anything, but he did something that, I don't know if I would have been willing to do what he did. I respect that," Reigns said.

"Me and Seth (Rollins), this is one of the only things we agree on, we don't want to be busting our ass this whole time, building this thing up for what it is, and just have some white knight coming sweeping in and take it from us. I've worked too hard, year after year, show after show, to put this place where it is. Then, here he comes. That's just not how it works for me."

Cody Rhodes ultimately lost to Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 39, a booking decision that has been widely derided in the days since Sunday, April 2. Rhodes has since transitioned to a feud with Brock Lesnar following the Raw after WrestleMania. WWE's plans for Roman Reigns are unknown.

H/T to Fightful