WWE Star Cody Rhodes Reveals the Pivotal Moment When Peers Shifted Their Treatment of Him
In a candid reflection on his meteoric rise in professional wrestling, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes has pinpointed the exact turning point when his fellow wrestlers began treating him differently. Speaking on the All The Smoke podcast, Rhodes described a stark contrast between the universal support he enjoyed during his climb and the sudden silence that followed his crowning achievement.
The Climb: Universal Backing from the Wrestling World
Rhodes, known as “The American Nightmare,” detailed how the wrestling community rallied behind him en route to WWE stardom. “On the way to the WWE Championship, I felt like everyone in the industry—from every company, from every independent I’d ever done, every corner of the earth—talked to me every second of every day, watched every segment I was part of, rooted for it,” he shared. “It was very real this climb to the top.”
This era of camaraderie spanned his time in AEW, independent circuits, and his triumphant WWE return in 2022, culminating in his WrestleMania 40 victory over Roman Reigns in April 2024. Fans and peers alike celebrated his “finish the story” narrative, forged from personal setbacks like leaving WWE in 2016 and building AEW into a powerhouse.
The Shift: Becoming “Corporate Cody”
The change, Rhodes explained, hit after he captured the WWE Championship twice and WWE positioned him as a flagship star. “Then it happened and then it happened again. So, here you are, two-time WWE Champion, and here you’ve been presented by WWE leadership as one of the faces of the company,” he recounted. “The moment the ‘corporate Cody’ kind of became a thing, I don’t hear from any of them.”
This “corporate Cody” persona—marked by polished promos, high-profile endorsements, and a central role in WWE’s creative direction—seemingly bred resentment or distance among peers. Rhodes admitted it stirred insecurities, echoing his earlier AEW exit where he felt “disrespected.” Despite the isolation, he remains grateful for unwavering fan support, which has propelled him through defenses against stars like Kevin Owens and Gunther.
Why It Matters: The Double-Edged Sword of Success
Rhodes’ revelation underscores a gritty truth in wrestling: adoration during the grind often fades at the summit. As of November 2025, with WWE’s landscape buzzing ahead of Survivor Series, this insight humanizes the champion, reminding us that even top-tier talents grapple with the loneliness of leadership. Rhodes continues to defend his title, but his words serve as a cautionary tale for up-and-comers—success can redefine relationships in the ring and beyond.