Cody Rhodes has revealed the specific milestone that will lead to him stepping away from active competition.
Since returning to WWE in 2022, Rhodes has established himself as one of the company’s biggest stars. During his second WWE run, he has become a two-time Royal Rumble winner, Undisputed WWE Champion, World Tag Team Champion, 2025 King of the Ring and 2024 Crown Jewel Champion. He has also defeated some of the biggest names in WWE, including Roman Reigns, John Cena, Seth Rollins and Randy Orton, whom he most recently defeated at WrestleMania 42.
Rhodes has remained embroiled in a heated rivalry with Orton since their WrestleMania 42 encounter. Orton unsuccessfully challenged for the WWE Championship at The Show of Shows, and their history dating back to their time together in Legacy has played a major role in the personal nature of their feud.
Their rivalry continued at Sunday Night’s Main Event, where Orton outsmarted Rhodes after the American Nightmare hesitated to deliver a potentially career-altering blow to his former friend. Orton then cost Rhodes during last Friday’s SmackDown Money in the Bank Triple Threat Qualifying Match, allowing Kevin Owens to advance.
Despite their ongoing issues, Rhodes and Orton will not meet in a rematch at Money in the Bank this Saturday.
During a recent interview with “WrestleTalk,” Rhodes revealed that he plans to retire from active competition once his daughter, Liberty Iris, turns 11 years old. Liberty, whom Rhodes shares with his wife, Brandi Rhodes, was born on June 18, 2021.
Rhodes explained that he does not intend to continue putting his body through the physical demands of professional wrestling once his daughter reaches that age. He said,
“When my daughter is 11 years old, I’m not going to be falling down for a living anymore.”
Rhodes also discussed John Cena’s retirement tour and how much he enjoyed watching it unfold. The American Nightmare explained that Cena’s farewell represented one of the things he loves most about professional wrestling – watching the next generation step up and establish itself as the future of the industry.
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