Following his win over Roman Reigns at Sunday night’s WWE WrestleMania 40 (Night Two) pay-per-view event, Cody Rhodes spoke during the post-show media scrum to comment on his post-match celebration with his friends, what he’d tell his father if he were alive today, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the media scrum below:
On if the post-match celebration was a callback to Dusty’s first title win: “If it was — maybe it wasn’t purposeful in planning, maybe it was just — I don;’t know, kismet? Destiny? That’s one of those moments, a lot of people asked me, ‘What’s it gonna feel like if you can beat the Tribal Chief, if you can beat Roman Reigns?’ And I was really honest when I said, ‘I don’t know.’ I don’t know, I’ve never been in the end zone before, you know? I’ve been 1B, I’ve main evented shows. I’ve been able to be in the main event. But there’s a difference between being in the main event and being THE main event.
“Roman Reigns, obviously he and I are not good friends. But that’s the greatest championship reign in sports and in entertainment. And as much as I don’t agree with his style and the way he went about being a champion perhaps, I still hope I can be half the champion he was for WWE, as a leader, as the quarterback.”
On all the people who were out there with him: “In the moment, I was so happy just to see my friends. You don’t have a lot of friends in wrestling, and then you do and they turn on you. And you know, Kevin Owens is a huge part of my journey. I wouldn’t have been able to meet the guys I met that I needed to meet and do the things that we would do without him. Sami was a huge part of my journey last year with our budding rivalry heading towards WrestleMania and him having that opportunity at Elminination Chamber. To see him. I didn’t think I would see Randy because he’d probably get on his bus because — you know, he’s Randy. So to have the guy who took me under his wing and I got to watch be a champion, that was amazing.
“I drove Cena around for almost two years. Learned everything I possibly could from him, but didn’t know I was learning because we had such a good time. And there’s nobody to carry WWE until Roman like John Cena. And for him to be out there, my family, LA Knight. Just a lot of victims of the Bloodline in a sense. I think more than anything, circling back to what you asked, I think that was just the joy.”
Cody Rhodes Reflects on WrestleMania Win and Pays Tribute to His Father Dusty Rhodes
Following his monumental victory over Roman Reigns at WWE WrestleMania 40, Cody Rhodes took the time to speak during the post-show media scrum. He shared his thoughts on his post-match celebration with his friends, what he would say to his late father Dusty Rhodes, and more.
One of the highlights of the post-match celebration was Cody Rhodes’ emotional tribute to his father. When asked if the celebration was a callback to Dusty’s first title win, Cody responded, “If it was — maybe it wasn’t purposeful in planning, maybe it was just — I don’t know, kismet? Destiny?” He expressed that he had never experienced such a moment before and that beating Roman Reigns was a significant achievement for him.
Cody acknowledged the difference between being in the main event and being THE main event. He recognized Roman Reigns’ incredible championship reign and admitted that while he may not agree with Reigns’ style and approach, he aspires to be half the champion Reigns was for WWE. He praised Reigns as a leader and a quarterback.
During the celebration, Cody was surrounded by his friends, and he expressed his happiness at seeing them. He mentioned the scarcity of true friends in the wrestling industry and how some may turn on you. Cody specifically mentioned Kevin Owens, who played a crucial role in his journey, helping him meet important people and achieve significant milestones. He also mentioned Sami Zayn, with whom he had a memorable rivalry leading up to WrestleMania. Seeing Randy Orton was unexpected for Cody, as he believed Orton would retreat to his bus after the match. Orton had been a mentor to Cody, and witnessing him as a champion was a remarkable experience.
Cody also reminisced about his time driving John Cena around for nearly two years. He mentioned that he learned a great deal from Cena without even realizing it because they had such a good time together. Cody emphasized that there is no one better than Cena to carry WWE until Roman Reigns. Having Cena present during the celebration was a significant moment for Cody.
In addition to his friends, Cody expressed his gratitude for his family and LA Knight. He referred to them as victims of the Bloodline, alluding to their encounters with Reigns’ faction. Overall, Cody attributed the overwhelming joy of the post-match celebration to the presence of his loved ones and the shared experiences they had endured.
Cody Rhodes’ victory over Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 was undoubtedly a career-defining moment for him. His heartfelt tribute to his father and appreciation for his friends and mentors showcased the deep connections and influences that have shaped his wrestling journey. As Cody continues to carve his path in the industry, fans can expect more memorable moments and remarkable achievements from this rising star.