Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes is an American professional wrestler known for his work in WWE and for helping to launch and popularize the promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW). The son of wrestling legend Dusty Rhodes, he became one of the most prominent figures in the industry during the 2010s and 2020s.

Early life

Cody Garrett Runnels was born on June 30, 1985, in Marietta, Georgia. He grew up in a wrestling family as the son of Dusty Rhodes, a celebrated performer and promoter, and the half-brother of wrestler Dustin Rhodes (known for the Goldust character). He competed as an amateur wrestler in high school before entering professional wrestling.

Career

Rhodes signed with WWE in the mid-2000s and debuted on the main roster, where he won tag team and other championships and developed several on-screen personas over the years. Seeking greater creative control, he left WWE in 2016 and built a reputation on the independent circuit and in promotions around the world, demonstrating that a wrestler could thrive outside the dominant company.

In 2019 he was a central figure in the founding of All Elite Wrestling, serving both as an in-ring performer and an executive. His role in helping establish AEW as a major competitor was widely credited as a significant moment in modern professional wrestling. He held championships in AEW and became one of its most recognizable stars before departing the promotion.

Recent work

Rhodes returned to WWE in 2022, and his comeback storyline centered on a long-pursued goal of winning the company's top championship, a title his father had never held. After a high-profile pursuit, he reached the top of WWE's card and headlined major events, including marquee WrestleMania matches. His return was regarded as one of the company's most successful narrative arcs of the era.

In addition to wrestling, Rhodes has appeared in television and reality projects and has been an outspoken advocate for the business side of the industry. He is widely seen as a leading face of contemporary professional wrestling, balancing his in-ring career with his legacy as part of one of the sport's most famous families.

Rhodes has frequently spoken about honoring his father's legacy, and his journey from leaving WWE to helping build a competing promotion and then returning has been cited as one of the most compelling career narratives in modern wrestling. He has also been involved in charitable efforts, including work supporting military and veteran communities, and has made appearances as a public personality outside the ring. With his combination of in-ring skill, promotional instincts and an emphasis on long-form storytelling, he is considered one of the defining wrestlers of his era.