It wasn’t just a result of winning the Royal Rumble that led Cody Rhodes to the main events of WrestleMania XL. It is the pinnacle of a multiyear quest for acceptance and an opportunity to make up for Roman Reigns’ tarnished WrestleMania 39 victory.
Son of the late great Dusty Rhodes and younger half-brother of Dustin “Goldust” Rhodes, Rhodes underwent a number of transformations in an effort to capitalize on his prowess in the ring and his narrative outside of it.
He decided to take a chance when it didn’t work out well.
He started off as a touring star in Japan and on the independent circuit in America before joining All Elite Wrestling as one of the founding executives.
Outside of WWE, he reached new heights. He also realized that, aside from the fact that he put himself in a difficult situation at AEW, he could only go so far without the unifying force that governs American wrestling.
He refused offers to join the company as it ate up regional rivals across America, leaving AEW and going back to the organization that had wronged his family time and time again ever before Dusty became a self-made star outside the WWF.
Ultimately, Rhodes gave in and became a midcarder for Vince McMahon’s organization, not as a world champion but rather as a polka-dot-dressed one.
The once-WWEA “The Natural” sibling of the author was transformed into an androgynous, pestulent Hollywood star.
Both were able to improve these pointless gimmicks (Goldust, in particular, was iconic, although both were a step ahead and a step behind their time), but neither were world champions.
Rhodes now makes his comeback to the main event of WrestleMania, where he failed in 2023. Last year, he was unable to defeat Reigns and The Bloodline.
If he and Seth Rollins are unable to defeat Reigns and The Rock on Saturday, they might have to deal with those same overwhelming odds once more on Sunday. These are WrestleMania XL’s main events.
This match will determine the circumstances of the main event on Sunday night.
The Bloodline will not be permitted to watch the WWE Universal Championship battle between Reigns and Rhodes from ringside if Rollins and Rhodes prevail. The match will be conducted under the Bloodline Rules if The Bloodline prevails.