Cody Rhodes
Rhodes as the WWE Intercontinental Champion in January 2012
Ring name(s)	Cody Rhodes[1] Cody Runnels[1]
Billed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Billed weight	215 lb (98 kg)[2]
Born	(1985-06-30) June 30, 1985 (age 26)[3] Marietta, Georgia[1]
Billed from	Marietta, Georgia[2]
Trained by	Dusty Rhodes[1] Al Snow[1] Bruno Sassi[1] Ray Lloyd[1]
Debut	June 2006[1]

Cody Runnels^[1][3] (born June 30, 1985)^[3] is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Cody Rhodes. Runnels is signed to WWE where he wrestles on its SmackDown brand.

Runnels is the half-brother of Goldust as well as the son of Dusty Rhodes, and worked as a referee in his father's promotion during high school. Runnels started wrestling professionally in 2006, using his real name, wrestling for Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). While situated at OVW, he won various championships, both in tag team and singles competition, including the OVW Heavyweight Championship. He made his WWE television debut on July 16, 2007, under the ring name Cody Rhodes. In December 2007, Rhodes captured his first title with the company, the World Tag Team Championship with Hardcore Holly, and the two held it for six months.

Rhodes formed a secret alliance with Ted DiBiase during 2008. In the course of a match held on June 29 he turned on Holly by switching sides to join DiBiase, with whom he became World Tag Team champion. The new champions dropped their titles in August, only to win them back a week later. Rhodes and DiBiase were joined by Manu shortly afterwards, forming a faction of multi-generation wrestlers, although this alliance was to be short-lived. In January 2009, Rhodes and DiBiase formed a new alliance, The Legacy, with Randy Orton. Rhodes was moved to the SmackDown brand in April 2010, as part of the Supplemental Draft, and won the WWE Tag Team Championship with Drew McIntyre in September of the same year. In August 2011, Rhodes won the WWE Intercontinental Championship, his first singles championship in WWE, holding it for over seven months until he lost it at WrestleMania 28. He won the title back one month later at Extreme Rules (2012).

Amateur wrestling career[link]

Runnels had a successful high school wrestling career, attending Lassiter High School in Marietta, Georgia.^[3] He placed sixth in the 171 lb (78 kg) division as a sophomore.^[4] As a junior, Runnels won the Georgia state tournament at 189 lb (86 kg) in 2003, and successfully defended the title in his senior year.^[4] Runnels had planned to wrestle collegiately at Pennsylvania State University, but decided to become a professional wrestler instead.^[5] During his time in high school, Runnels also acted as a referee in his father's Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling promotion.^[6] After graduating from high school, Runnels attended an acting school.^[7]

Professional wrestling career[link]

Ohio Valley Wrestling (2006–2007)[link]

Runnels during his stay in OVW.

Using his real name, Runnels began wrestling in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) in June 2006.^[3] Runnels formed a tag team with Shawn Spears in mid-August 2006 and they quickly became embroiled in a feud with The Untouchables over the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship.^[8][9] They first captured the championship from The Untouchables on October 18.^[3] In November 2006, Runnels and Spears defeated The Untouchables in a tag team match, and won the services of Cherry, The Untouchables' manager.^[10] Cherry accompanied Spears and Runnels to ringside, and soon Spears began to fall in love with her, which began interfering with their matches.^[11][12] On November 29, the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship was vacated after a match between The Untouchables and Runnels and Spears ended in a draw.^[13] The following week, a rematch between the two teams was held for the vacant championship.^[13] During this match Cherry turned on Spears and Runnels, rejoining The Untouchables and helping them regain the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship.^[13][14] Two weeks later, on December 20, Runnels and Spears defeated Deuce 'n Domino in a Street Fight to win the championship for the second time.^[15] Shortly afterwards, Runnels and Spears became involved in a scripted rivalry with each other, after Spears became jealous of Runnels' success as a singles wrestler.^[3] This rift started when Runnels won the OVW Heavyweight Championship from Paul Burchill at a house show on February 17, 2007, only to lose it back to Burchill the next day.^[3][16] Spears went on to win the OVW Television Championship in response.^[3] On April 11, the duo lost the Southern Tag Team Championship to the team of Justin LaRouche and Charles Evans.^[3] Runnels went on to defeat his now heated rival on July 6, to become the new OVW Television Champion.^[3][17] Exactly one week later, however, Runnels lost the championship back to Spears.^[18]

World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE[link]

Debut and teaming with Hardcore Holly (2007–2008)[link]

Cody Rhodes looks on as the referee admonishes William Regal during a bout in late 2007

On the July 2 episode of Raw, Runnels made his television debut, using the ring name Cody Rhodes, in a backstage segment with his father Dusty Rhodes and Randy Orton, where Orton introduced himself to Rhodes and then slapped Dusty as a sign of disrespect.^[19] On July 9, Rhodes slapped Orton in return, and the following week, Rhodes faced Orton in his debut WWE match, but lost.^[20][21] Rhodes appeared at The Great American Bash to prevent Orton from further attacking his father.^[22] The next night on Raw, Rhodes challenged Orton to a rematch from the previous week, only to lose again. Orton followed this up by kicking Rhodes' father in the head, similar to how he had, in storyline, nearly ended the careers of Shawn Michaels and Rob Van Dam.^[23]

Rhodes' next storyline was a rivalry with Daivari, after he pinned him on the July 30 episode of Raw, to keep his job.^[24] In the midst of this rivalry, he also feuded with The World's Greatest Tag Team, defeating both members, Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin in singles matches.^[25][26] The two feuds combined, when Rhodes, along with Paul London and Brian Kendrick, beat The World's Greatest Tag Team and Daivari in a six-man tag team match.^[27] The following week, Rhodes teamed up with Mickie James to defeat Daivari and Jillian Hall, ending their scripted rivalry.^[28]

Three weeks later, he began a feud with Hardcore Holly and lost three consecutive matches to him.^[29][30][31] Rhodes eventually earned Holly's respect, impressing Holly during their matches with his persistence and several near-falls, and the two formed a tag team.^[32][33] They earned a shot at the World Tag Team titles by defeating Paul London and Brian Kendrick and The Highlanders in a WWE.com exclusive match after an Alabama Slam.^[34] They fought against the Tag Team Champions Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch at Survivor Series, in what was Rhodes' first on-screen title shot and pay-per-view match, but were unsuccessful.^[35] On the November 19, 2007 episode of Raw, Rhodes faced Holly for a fourth time, and beat him for the first time, although they were both attacked by Randy Orton afterwards.^[36]

On December 10, 2007, on the Raw 15th Anniversary special episode, Rhodes along with Hardcore Holly defeated Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch for the World Tag Team Championship, marking Rhodes' first championship in WWE.^[37][38] The following week, Rhodes and Holly retained their title, in their first title defense, against Cade and Murdoch.^[39] They also successfully defended the championships against the teams of Santino Marella and Carlito and Paul London and Brian Kendrick.^[40][41] In May 2008, Ted DiBiase began feuding with the duo, threatening to take their titles in his first match as part of the Raw brand.^[42]

The Legacy (2008–2010)[link]

At the pay-per-view event, Night of Champions on June 29, Rhodes turned on Holly by revealing himself as Ted DiBiase's partner to help DiBiase win the match, becoming a villain.^[43][44] After holding the championship for just over a month, they dropped it to John Cena and Batista on the August 4 episode of Raw.^[45] The following week, DiBiase and Rhodes used their rematch clause to regain the championship.^[46][47] Rhodes and DiBiase were joined by Manu, the son of Afa Anoa'i, in September, forming a stable of multi-generational superstars.^[48] On the October 27, 2008 episode of Raw, Rhodes and DiBiase lost the World Tag Team Championship to Kofi Kingston and CM Punk.^[49]

During this time, Rhodes, DiBiase and Manu entered a storyline with Randy Orton where Orton constantly criticized and insulted them, and attacked DiBiase on the November 3 episode of Raw.^[50] At Survivor Series, Rhodes, along with Orton, was a sole survivor, for Orton's team, in the annual Elimination match.^[51] Rhodes and Manu accepted Orton's offer for an alliance in the following weeks, and the trio dubbed themselves "The Legacy"; debuting in a two-on-three handicap match against Batista and Triple H.^[52][53] Orton began scheduling tests for The Legacy members, so they could prove themselves, and over two weeks, both Manu and Sim Snuka were kicked out.^[54][55]

The Legacy (from left to right); Rhodes, Randy Orton and Ted DiBiase

On January 12, Snuka and Manu gave Rhodes the chance to align with them to attack Orton, along with the returning Ted DiBiase, but Rhodes refused.^[56] As they ambushed Orton, DiBiase instead joined with Orton and Rhodes to attack Snuka and Manu, and became a member of The Legacy.^[56] As part of The Legacy, Rhodes entered the Royal Rumble match in order to help Orton win, and lasted until the final three, before being eliminated by Triple H.^[57] Rhodes and DiBiase became involved in Orton's scripted rivalry with the McMahon family, helping him to attack Shane and Stephanie McMahon, and Stephanie's real-life husband, Triple H.^[58][59] Rhodes was also elevated to main event status as a result of joining The Legacy, competing in handicap and six-man tag team matches against Orton's opponents and rivals.^[60][61] On April 26, at Backlash, Rhodes, DiBiase, and Orton defeated Triple H, Batista, and Shane McMahon in a six-man tag team match, which, per the pre-match stipulation, resulted in Orton winning the WWE Championship.^[62] Rhodes suffered a minor neck injury in June, but did not need any time off to recover.^[63] Throughout mid-2009, Rhodes and DiBiase continued to compete against and attack Orton's rivals, especially Triple H.^[64] This led to Triple H reforming D-Generation X (DX) with Shawn Michaels, and DX defeated Rhodes and DiBiase at SummerSlam.^[65] Rhodes and DiBiase defeated DX at the following pay-per-view, Breaking Point in a submissions count anywhere match, but were defeated in a Hell in a Cell match at the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view in October, when Rhodes was pinned following a sledgehammer shot to the head.^[66][67] To sell the injury, Rhodes was taken out of the arena on a stretcher following the match.^[68]

Tension within The Legacy became apparent at the 2010 Royal Rumble, when Rhodes attempted to interfere in Orton's match for the WWE Championship. Rhodes was caught by the referee, resulting in a disqualification for Orton, who attacked Rhodes and DiBiase, who had tried to help Rhodes, after the match.^[69] On the February 15 episode of Raw, Orton took on Sheamus in a non-title rematch, but was again disqualified after Rhodes and DiBiase interfered.^[70] During the WWE Championship Elimination Chamber match at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, Rhodes interfered, passing a lead pipe through the cage to DiBiase. DiBiase hit Orton with the pipe and eliminated him from the match.^[71] The next night on Raw, Orton attacked Rhodes and DiBiase during a six-man tag team match, and they attacked Orton the following week in retaliation.^[72][73] This led to a triple threat match at WrestleMania XXVI, in which Orton defeated Rhodes and DiBiase.^[74]

"Dashing" Cody Rhodes (2010–2011)[link]

"Dashing" Cody Rhodes in December 2010.

As part of the 2010 WWE Supplemental Draft, Rhodes was drafted to the SmackDown brand.^[75] He made his debut for the brand on the April 30 episode of SmackDown, by defeating John Morrison.^[76] The following week on SmackDown, Rhodes participated in a tournament for the vacant WWE Intercontinental Championship, but lost to Christian in the semi-finals.^[77] On June 1, it was announced that Rhodes would be mentoring Husky Harris, a third generation wrestler, in the second season of WWE NXT.^[78][79]

On the June 25 episode of SmackDown, Rhodes began a new narcissistic gimmick, claiming to be the best-looking wrestler in WWE and demanding to be called "Dashing" Cody Rhodes.^[80] As part of the gimmick, vignettes began airing in which Rhodes gave 'grooming tips'.^[81][82] As part of the gimmick, Rhodes was extremely protective of his face during matches; if he was hit in the face, he threw a fit and checked his mirror.^[83][84] In September, he attacked Christian along with Drew McIntyre after a match, and the duo also attacked Matt Hardy, forming an alliance. At Night of Champions in September, Rhodes and McIntyre captured the WWE Tag Team Championship in a Tag Team Turmoil match, also including The Hart Dynasty, The Usos, Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov, and Evan Bourne and Mark Henry.^[85] At Bragging Rights, Rhodes and McIntyre lost the championship to The Nexus (John Cena and David Otunga).^[86] On the October 29 episode of SmackDown, after losing a tag team match, Rhodes and McIntyre dissolved their partnership.^[87]

In January 2011, Rhodes faced Rey Mysterio in a match, during which Mysterio hit Rhodes in the face with his exposed knee brace and legitimately broke Rhodes' nose.^[88][89] This prompted a storyline between the two, with Rhodes declaring he was no longer dashing and required facial reconstructive surgery.^[90] As part of the storyline with Mysterio, Rhodes was off television for several weeks, missing both the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber pay-per-view events. Upon his return, he wore a clear protective mask over his face, and colluded with his father to attack Mysterio and remove Mysterio's mask on the February 25 episode of SmackDown.^[91] Rhodes would go on to use his protective mask as a weapon during matches by headbutting opponents and sometimes took off the mask to use it to hit his opponents.^[92][93][94]

Rhodes and Mysterio faced off in a match at WrestleMania XXVII on April 3, which Rhodes won.^[95] The duo also faced off in a Falls Count Anywhere match at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view in May, which was won by Mysterio.^[96] On subsequent episodes of SmackDown following Wrestlemania XXVII, Rhodes, with the help of assistants, would hand out paper bags to the audience during his promos. Rhodes demanded the audience to put on the paper bags on their heads to cover their ugliness and imperfections, because they offended him.^[97] Rhodes also put paper bags over several of his opponents' heads after matches with them.^[98][99]

Intercontinental Champion (2011–present)[link]

Rhodes wearing his protective mask, and holding paper bags in June 2011.

Rhodes reformed his alliance with Ted DiBiase on the May 20 episode of SmackDown, and the duo went on to feud with Sin Cara and Daniel Bryan.^{[100][101][102]} At the second annual Money in the Bank pay-per-view, Rhodes participated in the Money in the Bank ladder match, but was unsuccessful as Bryan won the match.^[103]

At the August 9 tapings of the August 12 episode of SmackDown, Rhodes defeated Ezekiel Jackson to win the WWE Intercontinental Championship, his first singles title with the company.^[104][105] He made his first title defense the following week on SmackDown, by defeating Jackson in a rematch.^[106] That same night, Rhodes and DiBiase had a verbal confrontation with Orton. The following week, Rhodes attacked DiBiase after the latter lost a singles match to Orton, ending their alliance and resulting in a Intercontinental Championship match between the two at Night of Champions which Rhodes won.^[107][108]

Simultaneously, Rhodes had begun a feud with Orton, with Orton defeating Rhodes on the September 9 episode of SmackDown,^[109] but Rhodes defeated Orton on the September 12 episode of Raw with the help of Mark Henry's distraction of Orton.^[110] On the September 23 episode of SmackDown, Rhodes defeated Orton by disqualification when Orton took Rhodes' mask off and hit him with it.^[111] Post-match, Orton attacked Rhodes with the timekeeper's bell, legitimately cutting Rhodes and causing bleeding.^[112] The footage was highly edited for some broadcasts.^[113] The following week on SmackDown, Rhodes claimed he needed nine staples to close the wound.^[114]

At the same time as his feud with Orton, Rhodes was successfully defending his Intercontinental Championship, including in a 10-man battle royal and against Sheamus in a singles match.^[115][116] At the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view on October 2, Rhodes debuted a new white design for the Intercontinental Championship, similar to the classic 1980's design, before successfully defending it against John Morrison.^[117] Throughout October, Rhodes continued feuding with Orton, costing him the World Heavyweight Championship and attacking him.^[118][119] At Vengeance, Rhodes was defeated by Orton in a non-title match.^[120] On the November 4 episode of SmackDown, Orton defeated Rhodes in a Street Fight to end the feud; in the process, Orton broke Rhodes' mask.^[121]

On the November 14 episode of Raw, Rhodes reappeared without his mask, claiming that Orton had set him free, signalling the end of his masked gimmick.^[122] Rhodes was a member of Team Barrett for a traditional Survivor Series match at Survivor Series, in which he and Wade Barrett were the only two survivors and won the match.^[123] Rhodes then feuded with SmackDown commentator Booker T, attacking him from behind on several occasions, and successfully retaining the Intercontinental Championship against him at Tables, Ladders & Chairs and on the January 6, 2012, episode of SmackDown.^[124][125] In the 2012 Royal Rumble match, Rhodes lasted over 40 minutes, and eliminated more wrestlers than other any other competitor with six, before he was eliminated by Big Show.^[126][127] At Elimination Chamber Rhodes pinned Show in the World Heavyweight Championship Elimination Chamber match, before being eliminated by Santino Marella.^[128][129] Rhodes spent the following weeks highlighting Show's embarrassing moments in previous WrestleManias, often costing Show to lose matches in the process.^[130] At WrestleMania XXVIII, Rhodes lost the Intercontinental Championship to Big Show, ending his near eight month reign of 236 days.^[131]

Following the loss at WrestleMania, Rhodes would go on a brief losing streak due to Show distracting him during matches.^[132] Only four weeks after losing the title, Rhodes would regain the Intercontinental Championship from Show at Extreme Rules in a Tables match.^[133] On the May 7 edition of Raw SuperShow, Rhodes retained his title against Show in a rematch after getting himself counted out.^[134] Two weeks later at Over the Limit, Rhodes lost the Intercontinental Championship to the returning Christian.^[135]

Other media[link]

In July 2009, Rhodes became one of the faces of the Gillette "Be a Superstar" advertising campaign, along with Chris Jericho and John Cena.^[136][137] "Be a Superstar" was a four-month long interactive campaign, which featured the wrestlers in numerous videos promoting Gillette Fusion products.^[136] In August 2009, Rhodes, along with DiBiase, The Big Show and The Great Khali appeared on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.^[138] On May 26, 2010 it was announced that Rhodes would be guest starring in an episode of Warehouse 13 as "Kurt Smoller", a love interest of character Myka Bering.^[139] The episode aired in August 2010.

Personal life[link]

Runnels is the son of Dusty Rhodes as well as the half-brother of former WWE superstar Dustin Rhodes, who is better known by his ring name "Goldust". He also has a sister, Kristin Ditto, who is a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader.^[140] On March 31, 2007, alongside Dustin, he inducted their father into the WWE Hall of Fame.^[2][141] He is also the nephew of professional wrestlers, Jerry Sags and Fred Ottman, and the godson of Magnum T.A..^[1][3] He is dating Brandi Reed, known for her time as WWE ring announcer Eden Stiles.^[142]

His boots featured a Triforce symbol from the The Legend of Zelda series of video games of which he is a fan; he has stated he replays A Link to the Past yearly.^[7][143] Runnels is also a comic book fan and has worn wrestling gear inspired by Archangel, a character from X-Men.^[144] He cites Omega Red and Cyclops as his favorite fictional characters, along with the Inhumans.^[144]

In wrestling[link]

Rhodes executes Cross Rhodes on Justin Gabriel.

• Finishing moves
  • Cross Rhodes^[145] (Rolling cutter)^[146] – 2009–present
  • Silver Spoon DDT^[147] (Flowing DDT)^[148] – 2007–2009

• Signature moves
  • Beautiful Disaster^[149][150] (Springboard roundhouse kick)^[151][152]
  • Bulldog, sometimes from the second rope^[153][154]
  • Crossbody, sometimes from the top rope^[153][155]
  • Double leg slam^{[156][157][158][159]}  – adopted from Hardcore Holly^[160]
  • Dropkick^{[154][161][162]}
  • Dropping down and uppercutting the opponent,^[163] as a back body drop counter^[164]  – adopted from his brother^[165]
  • Inverted suplex slam^{[166][167][168]}
  • Kick to the midsection of an opponent holding onto the ropes and in a wheelbarrow hold^[169]  – adopted from Hardcore Holly^[170]
  • Knee drop^{[76][171][172]}
  • Moonsault^{[76][172][173]}
  • Russian legsweep^[172][174]
  • Wheelbarrow suplex^[175]

• Managers
  • Cherry^[10]

• Nicknames
  • "Dashing" Cody Rhodes^[80]

• Entrance themes
  • "Out To Kill" by Billy Lincoln (July 2007–June 2008; March 2010–July 2010)^[176]
  • "Priceless" by Jim Johnston (June 2008–January 2009)^[177]
  • "Priceless (remix)" by Jim Johnston (January 2009–May 2009)^[178]
  • "It's a New Day" by Adelitas Way (June 2009–March 2010)^[179][180]
  • "Smoke & Mirrors" by TV/TV (July 2010–January 2011)^[181]
  • "Smoke & Mirrors (V2)" by Jim Johnston (November 2011–Present)^[182]

Championships and accomplishments[link]

Rhodes as World Tag Team Champion with DiBiase

Amateur wrestling[link]

• Georgia State Tournament
  • Sixth at 171 pounds (78 kg) weight class (2002)^[3]
  • Champion at 189 pounds (86 kg) weight class (2003)^[3]
  • Champion at 189 pounds (86 kg) weight class (2004)^[3]

Professional wrestling[link]

• Ohio Valley Wrestling
  • OVW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[3][16]
  • OVW Southern Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Shawn Spears^[3][13]
  • OVW Television Championship (1 time)^[3][183]

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year (2008)^[184]
  • PWI ranked him #35 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2011^[185]

• World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE
  • World Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Hardcore Holly (1)^[37] and Ted DiBiase (2)^[44][46]
  • WWE Intercontinental Championship (2 times)^[104]
  • WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Drew McIntyre^[85]
  • Slammy Award for Outstanding Achievement of Baby Oil Application (2010)^[186]

References[link]