Cody Rhodes knows using Dusty Rhodes in promos is inevitable, but he wasn’t particularly interested with the approach for his recent promo exchange with Roman Reigns.
“The American Nightmare” has brought up his late, great father, WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, in several promos since he returned to WWE in 2022. Dusty has been a vital part of Cody’s storyline with Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, as he has been the subject of multiple promos. Reigns leaned heavily in that direction when he and Cody faced off on the March 3 episode of WWE SmackDown.
In an interview with Kevin Kellam of WrestleBinge by Sportskeeda, Rhodes commented on the use of his father in promos. He noted that he wasn’t really interested with having his segment with Reigns go ion that direction, but “The Tribal Chief” had a unique relationship with “The American Dream”.
“Can’t avoid it. Those nights when I make it clear that I’m not going to talk about Dusty at all is the night that the other guy talks about Dusty,” Cody said. “Just recently, with Roman, I wasn’t really interested in the idea of ‘we’re going to converse on my father,’ but he has a very unique relationship, and had a very unique relationship with my father, so he’s the one that took it up there. I’m always hip and keen to the amount of emotion that happens with me on television. Everything everyone has been watching since I came back at the Royal Rumble is real. In an industry where there is a suspension of disbelief and areas of gray, this is the most real anything has ever been, trying to win a title that my family never got. The last opportunity we got for it was in the late 70s. It’s as real as it gets. Coming back from a very real injury, trying to make it to the Royal Rumble, surviving Gunther until I was able to eliminate him, very real. I like that. I prefer that. I have the responsibility, but also to a degree, the burden of the character that I play is myself. That’s what makes ‘finish the story’ sound even better. It’s a real story.” (Transcription credit of Jeremy Lambert of Fightful)
Reigns will defend the title against Cody Rhodes at WWE WrestleMania 39.
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