Before WWE fame, Cody Rhodes’ journey saw early wrestling success, the Stardust era, a 2016 exit, career rebuilding outside WWE and a celebrated return as a global star | WWE News

Cody Rhodes lost the match against Randy Orton in WWE’s Sunday Night’s Main Event (Image via WWE)

Cody Rhodes is now firmly established as one of the top names in WWE, but his journey to the top was anything but straightforward. Before becoming a WrestleMania main-eventer and world champion, Rhodes spent nearly a decade trying to make a name for himself inside WWE while carrying the expectations that came with being the son of WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes.His first WWE run saw tag team glory, the Legacy faction, an Intercontinental Championship run and plenty of character changes. His most controversial period was with Stardust, a colorful alter ego who would eventually become synonymous with the frustrations surrounding his final years with the company. Eventually, Rhodes left WWE in 2016 and embarked on a career path that redefined his place in pro wrestling.

Cody Rhodes’ journey before leaving WWE and rebuilding his career

Rhodes began his WWE career in 2006 with Ohio Valley Wrestling, before coming up to the main roster in 2007. Dusty Rhodes was the son of one of the most influential figures in the history of American wrestling, and his ambitions were deeply connected to his family legacy.Rhodes had a lot of big accomplishments in his first WWE run. WWE records credit him with two Intercontinental Championship reigns and six tag-team championship reigns during his 2007-2016 tenure. He had a 236-day Intercontinental Championship run in 2011-2012, which was a big singles accomplishment before the character changes he made later in his career.The biggest change came in 2014 when Rhodes became Stardust. The character was inspired by the Goldust persona of his half-brother Dustin Rhodes, and the two brothers would go on to team in WWE’s tag-team division.Stardust was not without successes. At Night of Champions (2014), Rhodes and Goldust won the WWE Tag Team Championship. But the character became increasingly central to the direction of Rhodes’ WWE career, particularly as he looked to push into the singles main-event picture.

Cody Rhodes’ WWE career before leaving in 2016

On May 22, 2016, WWE announced they had granted Rhodes’ release, making his departure from the company official. The ruling snapped a streak that started almost a decade ago during his time as a developmental player and carried into his main-roster career.The circumstances of the departure were more complicated than a single character decision. In later discussions of his career, Rhodes spoke of becoming more and more distant from his goal of becoming WWE Champion. His Stardust run had become increasingly difficult to move past, and ESPN reported he spent years trying to convince WWE leadership he could become a top-level star.After WWE, Rhodes was able to work a much wider swath of the wrestling industry. He worked for independent promotions and overseas audiences, gaining experience in situations where he was not bound to the Stardust character.This period was important because Rhodes was able to establish himself as more than just a former WWE wrestler, but as a performer that could draw attention outside of the company. He built up his profile working for well-known independent promotions and competing in big wrestling events.

Cody Rhodes rebuilt his wrestling career outside WWE

Rhodes’ independent run gave him opportunities that were difficult to duplicate during his first WWE tenure. He continued to perform in different promotions and grow his international presence, including working in Japan and other major wrestling markets.One of the biggest evolutions was All In, back in 2018. The event, which saw Rhodes work with The Young Bucks and other names in wrestling, became an important milestone in independent wrestling.The success of All In helped prove there was an appetite for big wrestling events outside of WWE. It also helped power the launch of All Elite Wrestling in 2019, where Rhodes became an Executive Vise President, along with an active performer.Rhodes’ AEW run included high-profile bouts, title shots and major storylines. More importantly, it helped get the American Nightmare character established outside of WWE.

Cody Rhodes returned to WWE as a top star

Rhodes returned to WWE in April 2022 at WrestleMania 38, six years after his last WWE match. His surprise appearance as Seth Rollins’ opponent immediately made him a drastically different character from the Stardust-era wrestler who had left the company.Rhodes got the win in the rematch against Seth Rollins after three Cross Rhodes. WWE also pointed out how Rhodes paid tribute to his late father with the Bionic Elbow during the match.Rhodes has made his intentions clear since he returned; he wants to be WWE Champion. WWE announced immediately following WrestleMania 38 that he had a stated goal of capturing the championship.

The journey changed the meaning of Cody Rhodes

Rhodes’ career before WWE fame became a story of several distinct phases rather than a straightforward rise through one company. His initial WWE run proved his championship credentials, but the Stardust era and 2016 departure needed a massive reset.The time away from WWE allowed Rhodes to retool his character, polish up the American Nightmare persona and get experience in independent wrestling and AEW. Those experiences formed the basis for his eventual comeback.When Rhodes returned to WWE at WrestleMania 38, he returned after six years with a significantly different resume. His later championship success was the culmination of a journey that started under the pressure of following Dusty Rhodes, continued through the limitations of Stardust, and ultimately led to a career that was largely rebuilt outside WWE.