Who walked away with the award for Best WWE Moment of the Year at the 30th annual ESPY Awards ceremony?
Cody Rhodes has another trophy to add to his ever-growing list of accolades. On July 20th, Rhodes’ WWE return at WrestleMania 38 was named “Best WWE Moment of the Year.”
Other nominees included, The Undertaker’s Hall of Fame speech, Stone Cold Steve Austin hitting Stunners on Pat McAfee, Vince McMahon and Theory at WrestleMania and Big E cashing in his Money In The Bank contract to win the WWE Championship.
Speaking in a WWE Digital Exclusive following his victory, Rhodes described his return to WWE as the best wrestling decision he’s ever made.
“It’s very stirring. I was excited to be nominated, and it was a significant moment for me. It was the best decision that I’ve ever made in my wrestling career, coming back, but I’m nominated with guys like ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, The Undertaker, and John Cena, so to be the one who’s taking home the WWE moment of the year feels good. It’s a little bit if that new blood.
I’m still angry Cody from 2015, so to be able to show up and be like, ‘They voted for me,’ it’s definitely not something I take for granted. If anything, it’s kind of positioned me where I’m looking at 2023. I’ve just enjoyed this red carpet enough that I need to be back, so you gotta find another moment. And I think I know what that moment could be, in terms of getting back here again for another ESPY WWE Moment of the Year.”
Cody Rhodes shocked the wrestling world in early 2022 by announcing that he had left AEW, where he had been working as an Executive Vice President as well as an on-screen talent. Following his departure, Rhodes arrived back in WWE at WrestleMania 38 where he defeated Seth Rollins.
The American Nightmare went on to defeat his rival twice more in the following months, most notably at Hell In A Cell despite suffering a serious pectoral injury. The star recently underwent successful surgery to repair the problem and is expected to be out for a total of nine months.
H/t to Fightful for the transcription.