On a recent edition of his “Grilling JR” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross discussed Cody Rhodes winning the Undisputed WWE Universal Title from Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 last weekend.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On Cody Rhodes finishing his story: “He came out to my house in Oklahoma to do some vignettes [when AEW was starting], little video stuff. He took it seriously, hiring JR, and I really appreciated that. I love that kid. You know, God Almighty. His ornery little a** was always — when he could out of school and so forth, and Mama Rhodes would allow him to, he would come with Dusty [Rhodes] to TV and things of that nature. Good kid, love the kid. He’s got a heart of gold. And he worked his a** off to get to that point on Sunday night to have the match. I thought the match was really good. Solid, built a great story. Because I was expecting what the end was going to be, like many people — and if you thought that, then you’re right as was I on that one. They were booked into a corner, they had to switch the title, or it would have upset a lot of apple carts.
“So I’m happy for him. He’s gonna make a lot of money. I hope that he’s getting good financial guidance and advice. Now if I were him, my suggestion would be that — if he hadn’t already done it, he probably already done it — hire a certified financial planner. Because that way he can help keep you up for your quarterly taxes. Can you imagine his tax rate Conrad, at what he’s gonna be earning? And it’s not it’s not taxable income, it’s independent contractor money. You have to pay taxes on that every quarter. So you want to be prepared for that because it’s inevitable. It’s gonna come. So that’s the only thing I’d say to any young athlete in Cody’s position to where he’s making more money than he ever dreamed he might. ‘Are you prepared for your wealth?’ I’m sure he will be, he’s a smart kid. He a great addition to the team for WWE. I’m happy for him.”
On a potential Cody Rhodes vs. GUNTHER program and Sami Zayn beating GUNTHER for the Intercontinental Title: “Oh hell yeah. I would love to see Cody defend the title against Gunther. I’m a big Gunther fan. Very basic, very fundamentally sound. He’s a machine, he’s physical. What he does is realistic and tells great stories. And it was a hell of a match. The best match — I can’t tell you Conrad, if I saw a match that I liked that much better than Gunther and Sami Zayn on both nights. They just were tremendous. And I’m a big — like I said, a big Gunther fan. I think he’s doing a great fine, he’s got himself in active shape. I love his physicality. And then at the same respect, Sami Zayn played his role perfectly. Perfectly. The fire was when he needed it, the comeback was golden. That’s what babyfaces have gotta how to do, you gotta comeback.”
Cody Rhodes Wins Undisputed WWE Universal Title at WrestleMania 40
In a surprising turn of events, Cody Rhodes emerged victorious at WrestleMania 40, defeating Roman Reigns to become the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. This unexpected outcome has left fans buzzing and speculating about what this means for the future of both Rhodes and the WWE.
Rhodes, who is the son of legendary wrestler Dusty Rhodes, has been making waves in the wrestling world since his debut in AEW (All Elite Wrestling). His decision to leave WWE and join AEW was met with mixed reactions, but it seems that Rhodes has found success and fulfillment in his new home.
During a recent episode of his podcast, “Grilling JR,” WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross shared his thoughts on Rhodes’ victory. Ross expressed his admiration for Rhodes’ dedication and hard work, stating that he had witnessed the young wrestler’s determination firsthand when he came to Oklahoma to film vignettes for AEW.
Ross also emphasized the importance of financial planning for Rhodes, considering the substantial income he is likely to earn as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. He advised Rhodes to seek the guidance of a certified financial planner to ensure that he is prepared for the tax implications of his newfound wealth.
The conversation then turned to potential future storylines involving Rhodes. Ross expressed his enthusiasm for a potential matchup between Rhodes and Gunther, a rising star in the WWE. He praised Gunther’s physicality and storytelling abilities, highlighting his recent match against Sami Zayn as one of the best matches he had seen in a long time.
The victory of Sami Zayn over Gunther for the Intercontinental Title also caught Ross’ attention. He commended Zayn for his performance, noting that he played his role perfectly as a babyface, delivering a fiery comeback when needed.
Overall, Rhodes’ win at WrestleMania 40 has generated excitement and intrigue among wrestling fans. It will be interesting to see how his reign as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion unfolds and what challenges he will face in the future. As for Rhodes himself, it is clear that he has worked hard to reach this point, and his dedication and talent have paid off.