Cody Rhodes Back to WWE at Wrestlemania 38, said he was 'completely different individual'

Cody Rhodes returned to WWE at WrestleMania 38 on Saturday night, returning to the promotion he had made famous nearly six years ago.

During that time, Rhodes wrestled all over the world and was integral to the founding of All Elite Wrestling (AEW), a rival wrestling promotion run by Tony Khan. Rhodes was a top star onscreen and an executive vice president offscreen at AEW, but left the company in February 2022 after failing to land a new contract.

In an interview with Variety in the days before WrestleMania, Rhodes said that his dream is still to do what his father - the legendary Dusty Rhodes - never did. He didn't say it out loud for fear of being taken as a joke, but Rhodes has his eye on the WWE Championship. Dusty fought against superstar Billy Graham in 1977 at Madison Square Garden for the title, which was the WWWF title at the time, but never won it.

"He went to Madison Square Garden, stood in front of superstar Billy Graham and he held it in his hands, my goal, and it was taken because it was the context of the match," Rhodes said. "I understand that now as an adult, but as a child, that was the only reason I ever wanted to move in, so that I could get what he didn't get."

He also revealed that there is a Dusty Rhodes documentary in the works as part of WWE's partnership with A&E under the "Biography: WWE Legends" banner. Past wrestling greats in the series include Bret Hart, "Macho Man" Randy Savage and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

Read the full interview below.

How does it feel to know that you are not only coming back to WWE, but WrestleMania as well?

Everyone who knows has asked me how I'm feeling, if I'm really excited. The answers I keep giving to everyone is a really overwhelming feeling. When I first got into wrestling, I was completely into the WWE system, and my dream was to get to the top. Then dreams are like rivers, as the Garth Brooks song says, and it changed and it changed. Then we were able to do what we were able to do with AEW and that's something I'm very proud of, but to be able to revisit something that I set out to do in the first place When I didn't think I'd get that chance is just overwhelming.

It is too heavy to even think now. So yes, all the feelings - happy, excited, pressure, responsibility, all of that. But I don't know how I'll feel as long as I'm there. It sounds like the culmination of my entire career, but I don't want to make fun of it. I don't want to exaggerate there, but this is the biggest crowd in wrestling. It is returning to me as something that I have created and no one else has created. And this is the ultimate accomplishment.

You've been around for six years. Do you feel like you're a completely different artist from when you were gone?

I told Vince McMahon, Bruce Pritchard and Nick Khan - this very small group of individuals - I told them what I really believed and that I am the best wrestler in the world. And to go further with that, I don't think there's really a close second. But with that said, the opportunity to prove it exists now, and that's what I'm most excited about.

It's a completely different person returning to the game. This is a different brand. This is someone who has experienced all the wonders of independent wrestling, from traveling internationally, to being able to land with fans that have propelled this entire ship. But different person or not, I'm still that little kid I mentioned in the AEW promo who wants what my dad didn't get, and I'm not going to say it out loud because I don't want to make fun of it. But, you know, he went to Madison Square Garden, stood in front of superstar Billy Graham and he grabbed it in his hands, my goal, and it was taken because it was the context of the match. I understand that now as an adult, but as a child, that was the only reason I ever wanted to move in, so that I could get what he didn't get.

And of course, everyone wants to know the details about your departure from AEW.

I chose to remain silent about my departure from AEW and I'll have my say on that. No shoot is interview. There is no nefarious story that is being told. These were all different theories and none of them is true. I mean, there were things about money and creative control. They were printed as fact and it has been a very difficult two months to see, when the reality is that it was just time. It was a private matter and we could not go beyond it. I have nothing but respect for Matt [Jackson], Nick [Jackson] and Kenny [Omega]. I am in favor of Tony Khan. His name will be in the history books as someone who helped control and support this whole alternative and revolution that became AEW, but for me, it was time to move on. I get one chance in my dream, I get another chance at that. And you really can't leave any stone unturned in that.

Looking at everything you've done since leaving WWE, what do you think is the biggest lesson you learned on Saturday night?

I think it is difficult for any wrestler to find out the audience connect. You can look like Lex Luger. You can wrestle like Bret Hart. But what matters the most and what defines a pro wrestler to me is your ability to capture their imagination. That means they leave that show thinking about you, talking about you, discussing whether it was good or bad. When you grab it, it's like a dog with a bone. You can never let it go. I didn't get that connection until 2015, 2016, until the infamous betting on myself, you know?

All those independent shows, I don't remember the match. I mean, I'm sure I had fun and met some great people, but I remember the silly long meet-and-greets and stories and the universal bond about my father that so many fans had with me. That's what I carry in it. I am far away, in better shape. I am in the best form of my career. Again, I don't think anyone can touch me from bell to bell. And I mean. It sounds ludicrous, but it's just me believing in what I can do. But the number 1 thing that I have been able to carry with me is the audience engagement. Because that's what moves the game forward. And that was something I went out and got on my own and again, didn't want to let it go.

And will you still be known as The American Nightmare in WWE?

Yes. I mean, there shouldn't be any difference. To quote some of these individuals who saluted me for the moment, "It ain't broke." And it was a place that I didn't care about. And it was not that he did not have love and respect for me, but as a wrestler, I was not considered his most desirable. If anything, I was kind of undesirable. That's where the whole mantra comes in, the full promo of "Desire can't be denied", to be able to come back on your terms. It feels like being in the army and winning something or winning this fight and being able to keep your chin parallel to the floor and being able to come across in that fashion, being a bit of a victorious hero. This is how I see it in my dreams.

Incredible. Thank you so much for talking with me today, Cody.

I also just wanted to share with you that because I haven't been able to share with anyone, I'm really excited that A&E is making a documentary on my father. To be able to be an executive producer on this and not even that in question and to be able to coordinate the people who were really in his life and tell their story, that's also this journey. is a large part of. To see him and to keep that team there as well. I am a part of his journey.

Oh wow, that's cool!

And I'm excited to bring you the WWWF Championship belt that I acquired a few months ago, fought by Superstar and Dusty. I am excited to carry this in my bag.

Where did you get that?

Believe it or not - I bet he doesn't want me to say his name, but it's funny. Dan Lambert. He handed it to me without money and said "I thought it must be yours."