Following a WWE WrestleMania snub, Cody Rhodes was on the verge of quitting pro-wrestling.
Earlier today, during his recent sitdown interview session with Nikki Bella on the latest episode of his ‘What do you wanna talk about’ podcast, Cody Rhodes revealed how he had almost quit pro-wrestling during his first run in WWE.
The American Nightmare is arguably one of the biggest names in the industry right now and has come a long way since his initial run at the Stamford-based promotion. Recalling some of his tough past moments, such as his run as Stardust and the snubbed WrestleMania 29 tag-team, which was canceled at the last moment, Rhodes revealed how he almost quit the sport after that.
At WrestleMania 39, Rhodes was supposed to be in a mixed tag-team also involving Damien Sandow, Nikki Bella, and Brie Bella. However, owing to time constraints, the match had to be canceled last minute, and instead took place the next night on Raw after WrestleMania. Discussing the moment with Bella, Rhodes revealed that the snub compelled him to question his choices and instead think about a future as a high school wrestling coach.
Around the time we got cut at WrestleMania, and around the time Stardust popped up, I was going to get my degree so that in the public school system in Georgia, I could be an amateur wrestling coach. I had completely given up on entertainment, on ever making it.
I thought I’d done everything right. I was very pity party. Feel sorry for myself, all those things. Couldn’t get a look left or right. And you know, I a series of things happened in my life where now I look back and I’m like, man, what the like? Who were you? You weren’t you. Weren’t you? It’s like a gap of a few years of not being me.”
H/t Wrestlepurists
However, instead of quitting, Rhodes found his way out of WWE in 2016 and established himself as one of the biggest names in the promotion. Turning his career completely around, the 2025 King of the Ring winner has successfully transitioned from the ‘Undesirable One’ to the ‘Undeniable One’.
Cody Rhodes Discusses Snubbed WrestleMania 29 Tag-Team Match
At WrestleMania 29, Cody Rhodes, Damien Sandow, Brie and Nikki Bella were scheduled to face the team of Brodus Clay, Tensai, Naomi, and Cameron. However, due to time constraints, their match had to be pulled. Discussing the spot on his What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast, Rhodes and Bella recalled,
Cody Rhodes: Here you are, you have, literally, Total Divas being your show. Moving into Total Bellas, executive producing. This wonderful career that comes out of it. The reason I’m asking about this photo (of us before our match got cut) is because the conspiracy was that the match was never supposed to happen in the first place, that the drama of it being cut would be entertaining but I felt like we… weren’t thinking that.”
Nikki Bella: No. This is my thing, because I’ve heard this, a lot. I mean, then, it was kind of notorious that matches would get cut, right? So, I feel like it actually really did get cut but, if they cut it for drama for TV, that actually pisses me off… I’ve had some walk of shames in college. That was the worst walk of shame I’ve ever done in my life.
Rhodes: So, my walk of shame is a little different. I knew you guys had been hit hard by it. There was one point — I’m not naming names — who is overly optimistic and like, ‘Alright! Well, we’ll do it at Raw!’ And they were in that place. I was so angry, and at that point, I think that’s the first moment where I was like, ‘I’m out. I am out.’ Out didn’t come till years later but I thought, no, I’m out… Ah man, I can’t believe that match got cut in Gorilla.”
Bella: You know what I mean? No one will ever understand it unless you’re us in that feeling… At that time, our biggest moment just taken right from us.“
In other news: Juice Robinson has addressed his marriage to Toni Storm.