Cody Rhodes has played a significant role in WWE since his return at WrestleMania 38, contributing to the growth of the company’s business over the past two years. Rhodes has emerged as a prominent figure in merchandise sales and featured in events that set WWE box office records.
Before joining WWE, Rhodes was the Executive Vice President at AEW, where he held dual roles in talent and executive management.
In a recent appearance on “The Pivot” podcast, Rhodes discussed the valuable lessons he learned as an EVP at AEW and how he has applied those insights to his current tenure at WWE.
Cody said, “The number one thing I learned. As a talent, we are consistently delusional. I love confidence and swagger. You have to really know, ‘How many tickets are we selling? How many shirts are we moving?’ The numbers, socially, are so inflated. You have to really look at ‘what was the gross? What was the minute by minute ratings?’ If I ever have to look at another minute by minute rating, I’m going to pull all of hair out. I saw all that and realized, all of us, myself included, have this layer of delusion. Especially when money gets involved. You start asking around. ‘He’s making this, he’s making that.’ Number one rule in wrestling, do not ask anyone their pay. They’re going to lie to you. It’s going to always jump, like your weight. It gave me a new respect. I was anti-management. One of the reasons I left WWE. I was fighting that. I felt there was an element of being held back. I learned, as I went, it was more on me than on them. You can’t be emotionally attached to this. That’s a big one that I’m still….’I’ll do WrestleMania. I’ll wrestle WrestleMania for free.’ I’m missing a business note. Most wrestlers, because I think they qualify themselves more as artists, it doesn’t all compute. You have to have somebody look at it and break it down for you. That’s the best thing that can happen because then you go, ‘Okay, I have room to grow. Here is what I want to do.’”
Rhodes also revealed 16-time World Champion John Cena’s blunt feedback on his merchandise sales. The American Nightmare continued,
“I get my merch sheet still of what I sold in the Garden, percentage, all this. I’ll tell you who I send it to. I don’t send it to him as ‘Hey, check it out.’ I send it to him because I know he’s going to tell me the truth. It’s (John) Cena. It’s never, ‘Unbelievable, great job, you’re there. You’ve made it.’ It’s always, ‘Well, why don’t you check the other shows you’re not on and see how you’re doing there.’ Come on, man.”
Rhodes transitioned from AEW to WWE in 2022 and holds the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
