Well, let me tell you somethin’, folks. If ya ain’t heard of Cody Rhodes, I don’t know where you’ve been hidin’. That boy, he’s somethin’ else. Started out in WWE, but as the years went on, he felt like he was stuck in a rut. A lot of folks don’t know, but in 2016, Cody up and left WWE—his whole career was there. He’d been workin’ for them since he was just a kid, but he didn’t feel like he was goin’ anywhere. Can you imagine? Bein’ stuck in the same ol’ thing all your life. That’s when he decided to take matters into his own hands. The boy was ready to go out there and make a name for himself, and that’s exactly what he did.
Now, Cody’s story ain’t just a regular ol’ tale. Nah, it’s somethin’ a bit different. He didn’t want to keep goin’ by the name Stardust forever. That’s the gimmick they gave him in WWE, and though he did his best with it, he just couldn’t see himself stayin’ in that box. So he packed up and went to the indies. That’s right, he risked it all, folks, leavin’ behind the bright lights and the big stage of WWE for a whole new world where nobody knew his name. But he didn’t just want to be another wrestler—he wanted to be a star in his own right.
And ya know what? It worked. Cody went all around the world, showin’ folks what he was made of. He worked in Japan, in Europe, and all sorts of places. Everywhere he went, he gained more and more fans. But it wasn’t just about winnin’ matches for him. Nah, he wanted to build somethin’. And that’s where AEW comes in.
Cody was one of the folks who helped start AEW, a new company that promised to be different from all the others. It wasn’t just about makin’ money—it was about givin’ fans something fresh, somethin’ they hadn’t seen before. And folks loved it. Cody wasn’t just a wrestler there; he was a leader, helpin’ to build the whole company from the ground up. And in many ways, he became the face of AEW. People started seein’ him as the “American Nightmare,” a name that fit him perfectly. He was no longer just a boy from the WWE—he was a whole new thing.
But here’s the kicker. Cody didn’t stay in AEW forever. Nope. In 2022, he made the decision to leave AEW and head back to WWE. Now, some folks were surprised. They didn’t know why he would leave a company he helped build, but Cody had his reasons. The boy’s always been about makin’ moves that are good for him and his future. He knew that if he wanted to get back to the top, he had to take a step in a new direction.
So what does this all mean for us? Well, if you’re a fan of wrestling or just like a good ol’ story of a man risin’ up, Cody’s journey is one you won’t want to miss. If you ever wondered what it’s like to be behind the scenes, to see the blood, sweat, and tears that go into every match, then you’re in luck. There’s a documentary called American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes, and it gives ya a real good look at what this boy’s been through. Ya get to see all them unseen moments that they don’t show on TV. It’s all there—15 years’ worth of footage that paints a picture of the struggle, the glory, and the heartache that comes with tryin’ to make it in the wrestling world.
This documentary is available on platforms like Apple TV and Peacock. Now, I ain’t sayin’ you gotta watch it, but if you’re curious about Cody and how he became who he is today, this is your chance to see it all. It’s intimate, it’s real, and it shows just how much work goes into every part of this boy’s career. From the highs to the lows, it’s all laid out for ya. And if you’re like me, you’ll appreciate a good ol’ story of a man fightin’ for his dreams, takin’ risks, and never backin’ down.
So, next time you’re sittin’ there wonderin’ what makes Cody Rhodes tick, just know this—he’s more than just a wrestler. He’s a man who took a chance, left everything behind, and built himself up from scratch. Ain’t many folks have the guts to do what he did, but Cody? He sure did. And that’s somethin’ worth respectin’.
Tags:[Cody Rhodes, American Nightmare, WWE, AEW, professional wrestling, documentary, Apple TV, Peacock, Stardust, American Nightmare Becoming Cody Rhodes, wrestling history, indie wrestling, AEW documentary]