Cody Rhodes, born Cody Garrett Runnels on June 30, 1985, in Marietta, Georgia, stands as one of the most prominent figures in modern professional wrestling.
He carries forward the legacy of his father, the legendary Dusty Rhodes, while carving out his own identity as “The American Nightmare.”
Signed to WWE’s SmackDown brand, Rhodes has become a cornerstone of the promotion, known for his relentless drive, charismatic promos, and ability to connect with audiences on a profound level.
His journey from developmental territories to headlining WrestleMania embodies resilience and reinvention, making him not just a performer but a symbol of perseverance in the high-stakes world of sports entertainment.
Siblings
Rhodes’ older half-brother, Dustin Rhodes is a veteran performer who has spent decades in the ring, amassing a career filled with eccentric characters and hardcore matches across WWE, WCW, and AEW.
Born in 1969 to Dusty Rhodes and his first wife, Sandra McHargue, Dustin and Cody have collaborated in tag teams like The Rhodes Brothers, blending brotherly rivalry with on-screen drama that highlights their shared heritage.
Adding to the family dynamic are Cody’s two sisters: Kristin Runnels Ditto, the eldest half-sibling from Dusty’s first marriage, who gained recognition as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader before transitioning into entrepreneurship and a low-profile life away from the spotlight; and Teil Margaret Runnels Gergel, Cody’s full sister born in 1982 to Dusty and his second wife, Michelle Rubio, who briefly dabbled in wrestling with AEW before embracing a role as a homemaker and family supporter in Atlanta.
Career
Rhodes’ professional odyssey began in earnest in 2006 when he inked a developmental contract with WWE, debuting in Ohio Valley Wrestling under his birth name, Cody Runnels.
Trained from a young age by his father and mentors like Al Snow and Randy Orton, he quickly adapted to the grind, forming a tag team with Hardcore Holly and capturing early gold in OVW.
His main roster breakthrough came in 2007 on Raw, where he adopted the Rhodes surname and joined the villainous Legacy stable alongside Randy Orton and Ted DiBiase Jr., a faction that propelled him into high-profile feuds and storylines.
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Over the next decade in WWE, Rhodes evolved through personas like the vain “Dashing” Cody Rhodes and the interstellar Stardust, navigating mid-card triumphs and frustrations that tested his resolve.
A pivotal release in 2016 marked his exodus, leading to a transformative independent run billed simply as Cody.
He conquered promotions worldwide, from New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he joined the Bullet Club and claimed the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, to Ring of Honor and TNA, forging the “American Nightmare” moniker as a defiant counterpoint to his father’s “American Dream.”
This era peaked with his role in the groundbreaking All In event in 2018, co-founded with The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega, which sold out and birthed All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in 2019.
As an AEW executive vice president and in-ring star, Rhodes captured the inaugural TNT Championship three times and headlined shows, though creative tensions prompted his departure in 2022.
His triumphant WWE return at WrestleMania 38 against Seth Rollins ignited a redemption arc, culminating in back-to-back Royal Rumble victories in 2023 and 2024, and a WrestleMania XL main event where he dethroned Roman Reigns to claim his first WWE world title.
Accolades
In WWE alone, Rhodes has etched his name into history as a two-time Intercontinental Champion, first claiming the mid-card prize in 2011 by defeating Ezekiel Jackson and recapturing it later amid feuds with The Big Show and Christian.
His tag team prowess shines through six WWE tag titles, including three World Tag Team Championships—two alongside his brother Dustin Rhodes and one with Ted DiBiase Jr.—plus three WWE (Raw) Tag Team Championships with partners like Drew McIntyre and Jey Uso, and a WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship.
Beyond WWE, his independent and international exploits yielded the ROH World Championship in 2018, a nod to his father’s NWA legacy, along with the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship with The Young Bucks, the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship in NJPW, and the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at All In.
In AEW, he tied the record as a three-time TNT Champion, inaugurating the title and defending it in marquee bouts.
Rhodes’ accolades extend to prestigious awards, such as back-to-back Royal Rumble wins in 2023 and 2024—the first consecutive triumphs since 1992—the 2025 King of the Ring tournament victory, and the inaugural WWE Crown Jewel Championship.
He stands as WWE’s 34th Triple Crown Champion, a testament to his singles, tag, and world title conquests.
Off the mat, accolades like Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Most Popular Wrestler of the Year for 2023 and 2024, multiple Slammy Awards, including Male Superstar of the Year in 2024 and 2025, Match of the Year for his WrestleMania XL clash with Roman Reigns, and Tag Team of the Year in 2013 with Dustin.
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